By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The NHL has more than a start date in mind for their 2021 season.
In fact, Tuesday came with the league’s revised schedule of critical dates of note for the 2021 season and offseason.
And it turns out we won’t have to wait long to hear the sound of blades back on NHL-quality sheets.
Dec. 31, 2020: Training camps open for the seven teams not invited to 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff bubbles
This group includes the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and San Jose Sharks. The Sharks, by the way, are expected to open training camp in Arizona due to local regulations preventing teams from setting up shop in Santa Clara. (The 49ers, for example, are finishing their 2020 season in Arizona.)
Jan. 3, 2021: Training camps open for the 24 teams involved in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs
This is when the Bruins (and 23 other teams) will officially open their doors in preparation for the 2021 season. This will be as rapid-fire as it gets, too, as this camp will begin and end without a single preseason game for any of the league’s 31 clubs. Players have already started filing into Boston and taking part in some optional workouts at Warrior Ice Arena.
Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins practices at Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Mass. on June 10, 2020. (Credit: Boston Bruins)
Jan. 13, 2021: Opening Night of 2021 regular season.
A 56-game regular season will feature all intradivisional play. The Bruins will compete in the “East Division,” which features the Sabres, Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals. The Bruins went a combined 14-1-5 against these seven foes during the 2019-20 season.
April 12, 2021: The 2021 trade deadline
It’ll be interesting to see how this deadline plays out, all things considered, as teams aren’t exactly flushed with cash right now. A position to watch for the Bruins this time around may be left-side defense, as the Bruins are loaded in bodies but not established bodies entering the 2021 season. The Zdeno Chara situation adds an interesting wrinkle to that potential issue. Oh, and the Bruins will probably be looking for a shoot-first winger for David Krejci as well because they’re literally always looking for a winger for David Krejci.
May 8, 2021: Final day of the 2021 regular season
Assuming the NHL finishes on May 8 as planned (potential COVID-19 outbreaks and rescheduled games as a result could obviously change this), this would mean that the NHL played 56 games in 115 days. SHEESH.
May 11, 2021: First night of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs
This year’s playoff format will see the top four teams in each of the league’s new, temporary divisions earn playoff berths.
July 9, 2021: Last possible day of 2021 Stanley Cup Final
This gives the NHL two weeks of breathing room between the end of their year and the first night of 2021 Olympics.
Aug 26, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A worker cleans up water droped by the ice resurfacer before game three of the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
July 17, 2021: Deadline for teams to submit Protection List for the Seattle Kraken expansion draft
Every team with the exception of the Vegas Golden Knights will have to submit their protection list. Teams can opt to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie or eight skaters and a goaltender. Players with no-trade clauses must be included on a team’s protection list. The Bruins went with a 7-3-1 protection list format for the Vegas expansion draft in 2017.
July 21, 2021: The Seattle Kraken expansion draft
Ron Francis and the Kraken will have their say and pluck a talent from every team. Some way-too-early names to watch as potential departures for the Bruins: Anders Bjork, Ondrej Kase, and Jeremy Lauzon.
July 23, 2021: Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft
July 24, 2021: Rounds 2 through 7 of the 2021 NHL Draft
Dec 20, 2018; Boston, MA: Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask congratulates goaltender Jaroslav Halak after their 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
July 28, 2021: Free agency opens
The Bruins’ 2021 free agent class currently features unrestricted free agents David Krejci, Sean Kuraly, Par Lindholm, Greg McKegg, Tuukka Rask, and Jaroslav Halak. Their restricted free agent class, meanwhile, includes Brandon Carlo, Ondrej Kase, Nick Ritchie, and Anton Blidh.