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NHL, players considering a mid-January start to 52- or 56-game season

With a Jan. 1 start date for the 2020-21 season no longer seemingly realistic, the NHL and NHLPA are reportedly now discussing a potential Jan. 15 start for the new season, and with a shortened season that could be 56 or 52 games.

The news was first reported by TSN.

The league still officially is targeting a New Year’s Day start, but in an interview Wednesday with Sports Business Journal, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called a Jan. 1 opening for the league "a work in progress.’’

Given that the NHL has not announced a start date for training camp, a Jan.