When Gary Bettman announced that the NHL was now eyeing a January 1, 2021 start date for the 2020-21 season at the 2020 NHL Draft, the fate of two standing league events immediately came into question. January is a busy month for the league, who open the New Year with the Winter Classic and close it out with All-Star Weekend.
If the coronavirus pandemic was under better control in the United States, perhaps the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, featuring the Minnesota Wild facing the St. Louis Blues at Target Field in Minneapolis, could’ve opened the season, as it was originally scheduled for January 1.