It’s the holiday season, but the gift of a 2020-21 NHL season is on the horizon. The league still has things to iron out and there are plenty of NHL rumours to go around. Sunday’s Board of Governors meeting will hold some of the keys. Today’s NHL rumours centre on the start of the 2020-21 season, the Philadelphia Flyers and the fate of the Ontario Hockey League season.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
2020-21 season
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN said the league will hold a special Board of Governors meeting at noon Eastern Time on Sunday. An agreement on the start of the season is likely to be voted on.
NHL has scheduled a Board of Governors call for noon ET Sunday
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 19, 2020
Analysis: Friday night’s agreement was a big hurdle that both sides cleared in order to get a season. There are still plenty of issues to hammer out, but the framework seems to be in place. There’s always concern about a deal being finalized until it’s signed off on, but it looks both sides want to get started in mid-January.
LeBrun also added that the free agent period will start of July 28. However, other dates like the playoffs and draft need to be finalized. David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period said the playoffs will start in early May and finish by the middle of July. The draft is a different story and both sides will have to figure out when the 2021 event will start.
Philadelphia Flyers
Rumour: NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall reports that the Flyers have expressed interest in Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine.
Hockey to watch starting Sunday, a look at two big offseason names and more from @JHallNBCS. https://t.co/FVj7wdAFlG
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 17, 2020
Analysis: Hall cited a report from LeBrun that both sides discussed a trade earlier in the summer. However, the talks cooled off and nothing has been reported in recent weeks. Discussions could pick up again according to Hall. However, the Jets have a very stiff asking price for the 22-year-old winger.
Laine is a sought-after commodity and Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has his pick of suitors. Plenty of teams will try to make a deal and the Jets can wait until the right package comes along. Much will also hinge on how Laine will do with a renewed partnership with Paul Stastny. The young Finn loved having Stastny and his production suffered last season.
OHL
Rumour: Rick Westhead with TSN and CTV reports that the Ontario Hockey League may not have a season due to COVID-19.
Covid-19 numbers are exploding and Southern Ontario is likely to be locked down until mid-Jan at least.
While the OHL says it hopes a season can start Feb. 1, several player agents tell me they're advising young players to come to terms w possibility season will be canceled.— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) December 18, 2020
Analysis: Westhead cited the recent surge in COVID-19 numbers in Southern Ontario that have that part of the province locked down at least to mid-January. The league said it’s hopeful to start the season on Feb. 1. However, agents told Westhead that they’re telling players to prepare for the season to be scrapped. Agents are trying to be realistic with their young clients in an uncertain time.
The coronavirus is still spiking at this time and the QMJHL has run into plenty of issues trying to run its season. Cancellations and sickness have become the norm and the season is paused until at least Jan. 3. Some divisions were able to play some games, but the virus eventually caught up to the league. The Western Hockey League was slated to start on Jan. 8, but that date has been pushed back to early February at the earliest.
It would be terrible to lose a season of development, but safety is the key at the moment. However, teams and the surrounding cities that can gain an economic boost from the OHL will also feel the sting of not having a season after losing out on the end of the 2019-20 campaign. Players will have to find a new way to raise their draft stock for the upcoming drafts.
