The NHL realigned its divisions for the 2020-21 season, which will start Jan. 13, 2021, and have every single team playing a condensed 56-game intradivisional schedule. Essential dates for 2020-21 season announced by NHL, NHLPA. Includes opening evening, Trade Deadline, Expansion Draft, commence towards the free-agent signing period

The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced crucial dates for the 2020-21 season Tuesday. The NHL and NHLPA formally reached an agreement Sunday to play a 56-game common season beginning Jan. 13, 2021 and ending May well 8.

Offseason highlights incorporate the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken on July 21. Seattle was authorized as the 32nd NHL group on Dec. four, 2018, and will begin to play in the 2021-22 season.

Right here will be the crucial dates for the upcoming season:

Dec. 31: Instruction camps open for seven teams that did not take part in the Return to Play Strategy for the 2019-20 season (Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and San Jose Sharks).

Jan. three, 2021: Training camps open for the remaining 24 NHL teams.

Jan. 13: Standard season begins. Every one of the eight teams within the East, Central, and West divisions will play each other group in its division eight instances, and each group inside the North Division (seven teams primarily based in Canada) will play each and every other team in its division nine or ten instances.

April 12: NHL Trade Deadline (three p.m. ET).

Could eight: Finish off your typical season.

Might 11*: Stanley Cup Playoffs commence. The leading four teams in every single division will qualify for the playoffs. The first two rounds are going to be intradivisional, together with the first-place group playing the fourth-place team plus the second-place team facing the third-place team within the very first round. The 4 teams that advance from the second round towards the Semifinal Round might be seeded by their points total in the standard season (No. 1 vs. No. four; No. 2 vs. No. three).

July 9*: Last doable day of Stanley Cup Final.

July 17: Deadline for teams to submit protected lists for 2021 NHL Expansion Draft (5 p.m. ET).

July 21: 2021 NHL Expansion Draft (eight p.m. ET).

July 23: Initial round of 2021 NHL Draft.

July 24: Rounds 2-7 of 2021 NHL Draft.

July 28: Restricted free agent/unrestricted cost-free agent signing period starts (12 p.m. ET).

Related: NHL 21 Games,  NHL 21 Coins.