Report: NHL Won't Go Lower Than a 48 Game Season

The NHL continues to work through hoops and bounds to try and work out the best scenario for playing next season. While the locations haven't yet been determined, among other things, the league has reportedly made one thing clear.

According to ESPN, the NHL won't consider playing the 2021 season in less than 48 games.

It's believed the season could start on either January 1st or January 22nd. One goal in mind is ensuring the Stanley Cup is awarded before the Summer Olympics begin on July 23rd.

NHL Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly recently met with the media and had this to say on next season's outlook:

I think there is some flexibility if we were to choose that route. There's a lot left to be played out on the Olympics front too. We have models that extend past the Olympic time period. Those are alternatives that are on the table. I can't tell you they're the ones that are necessarily going to be pursued, but I think there's some flexibility there.

Look for the NHL to try and have fans in the stands, not necessarily at capacity, but socially distant, much like the NFL is currently doing. Regardless, the NHL continues to work through these decisions and a formal announcement on next season should be coming soon.

Photo credit: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire