According to reports, the NHL and NHLPA have reached a tentative deal on a 56-game 2021 season. The plan remains to begin play on January 13, but that date has not been finalized. Training camps will start on December 31 for the seven teams that did not participate in the playoffs and January 3 for the 24 teams that did. There will be no exhibitions games.
Both the NHL Board of Governors and the players’ association still need to vote to approve the deal before it becomes official. That is expected to happen early next week.
The Florida Panthers are expected to be in an eight-team, hodgepodge division with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning.