NHL targeting a Jan. 1 beginning to next season
Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday night the NHL is targeting a Jan. 1 start for next season.
That declaration came after recent talks between the league and NHL Players’ Association. The new date is a month after the tentative Dec. 1 start.
“It was just over a week ago that we celebrated the successful completion of our 2019-20 return to play with the crowning of the Tampa Bay Lightning as Stanley Cup champions,” Bettman said. “Based upon what we have learned and what we know and what we still don’t know, I can say that we are now focused on a Jan. 1 start for next season.”
That could mean kicking things off with the Winter Classic that has become a staple of New Year’s Day. The Minnesota Wild are scheduled to host the St. Louis Blues in that game at Target Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Twins.
The estimated start for training camps will be announced at a later date. NHL teams are expected to get camps of at least two weeks, just as they did before the expanded playoffs over the summer.
Free agency opens Friday, with the NHL looking to speed through the offseason while planning to play in 2021.
Wings’ Abdelkader on buyout waiver
NEW YORK » NHL teams continue to clear salary cap space with free agency coming up later this week.
The Detroit Red Wings placed forward Justin Abdelkader on unconditional waivers Tuesday for the purpose of buying out his contract. The Montreal Canadiens did the same with defenseman Karl Alzner, who had been relegated to the minors for much of last season.
Abdelkader had three years remaining on his contract at a salary cap hit of $4.25 million. His buyout will span six years.
Pittsburg defenseman Jack Johnson cleared unconditional waivers, allowing the team to buy out the remainder of his contract. Johnson’s buyout will also last six years.
Columbus, Montreal swap
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens got a jump on the trading action before the start of the NHL draft with an intriguing swap of forwards.
The Blue Jackets acquired center Max Domi and a third-round pick from the Canadiens for winger Josh Anderson, who had hasn’t played since December and had his 2019-20 season ended by surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.