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The NHL is doggedly determined to come up with a conclusion to its 103rd season having come as far as they did. After being suspended on March 12th of 2020, it is scheduled to resume on August 1st.
Logistics
The season recommences immediately with the playoffs. Round 1 (qualifying round) will be a best of five series. This round has 16 total teams (8 Eastern & 8 Western) and beings August 1st. Round 2 (or first round of actual playoffs depending on what verbiage you want) consisting of 16 total teams (8 Eastern & 8 Western) will begin August 11th. Round 3 (or second round) will consist of 8 total teams (4 Eastern & Western) beginning August 25th. Conference Finals will be the four final teams on September 8th, with the Stanley Cup Finals scheduled for September 22nd.
COVID-19 Specific information
- Players will be tested 2 days prior to arriving at the facility and then every other day.
- Six players have opted out of the playoffs: Karl Alzner, Sven Baertschi, Mike Green, Travis Hamonic, Steven Kampfer and Roman Polak.
- 43 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since Phase 2 (June 8th) the NHL has not disclosed the names.
Playoff Seeding
(Games are set to be played in two Canadian hub cities, looking like Toronto for Eastern Conference Games and Edmonton for Western Conference Games at this point)
Eastern Conference
Four teams automatically advance to the 2nd round: Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers
Eight teams advanced to the qualifying round and will battle to make it to the 2nd round:
- #5 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #12 Montreal Canadiens
- #6 Carolina Hurricanes vs. #11 New York Rangers
- #7 NY Islanders vs. #10 Florida Panthers
- #8 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. #9 Columbus Blue Jackets
Western Conference
Four teams automatically advance to the 2nd round: St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars
Eight teams advanced to the qualifying round and will battle to make it to the 2nd round:
- #5 Edmonton Oilers vs. #12 Chicago Blackhawks
- #6 Nashville Predators vs. #11 Arizona Coyotes
- #7 Vancouver Canucks vs. #10 Minnesota Wild
- #8 Calgary Flames vs. #9 Winnipeg Jets
NHL Draft
(Scheduled for October 9th & 10th)
Order and percentage likelihood they got that pick:
- 1st: One of the eight teams who lose in the qualifying round will be eligible to receive the first overall pick at a low 2.5% chance.
- 2nd: Los Angeles Kings (9.6%)
- 3rd: San Jose Sharks (11.1%)
- 4th: Detroit Red Wings (50.6%)
- 5th: Ottawa Senators (27.9%)
- 6th: Anaheim Ducks (34.5%)
- 7th: New Jersey Devils (38.9%)
- 8th: Buffalo Sabres (39.5%)
- 9th - 30th: TBD at this point
2020-2021 Season
As of now it will begin on December 1st (training camps open in mid November). The current plan is to have 82 games but at the conclusion of this season it will be up for discussion.