BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Hockey is back!
The NHL and NHLPA announced on Sunday that the 2020/21 season will begin on January 13th and will be reduced to 56 games.
Training camp for the seven 2020 non-playoff teams which includes the Sabres will begin on December 31st.
Teams will be realigned and split into four divisions with the Sabres joining seven other teams in the East Division.
All seven Canadian teams will play in the same division which will be known as the 'North Division'.
All teams will only play teams within their division.
“The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the Return to Play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play. And, as was the case last spring and summer, I thank the NHLPA, particularly Executive Director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our League back on the ice.”
“The Players are pleased to have finalized agreements for the upcoming season, which will be unique but also very exciting for the fans and Players alike,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director. “During these troubled times, we hope that NHL games will provide fans with some much needed entertainment as the players return to the ice.”
Playoffs will begin after the season ends on May 8th.
The top four teams from each division will make the playoffs and the four teams that advance to the Semifinal Round would be seeded by their regular season points total, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed in one series and the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds meeting in the other.
The NHL will release a schedule within the coming days.
