How Many NHL Games Will Be Played This Year?
Contents
The NHL schedule is out and we’ve got the answer to how many games will be played this year.
Introduction
The length of the NHL regular season has varied considerably throughout the years, with an 84-game schedule being played as recently as the 2013–14 season. The current 82-game schedule was introduced in the 2017–18 season. The regular season is followed by a postseason tournament, commonly referred to as the Stanley Cup playoffs, which usually lasts about two months.
The NHL Lockout
The NHL lockout is a work stoppage that began on September 16, 2012, which has resulted in the cancellation of all games through December 14, 2012. As of December 21, 2012, 610 regular season games (48.8%) have been lost due to the lockout. This is the third work stoppage since Gary Bettman became NHL Commissioner in 1993.
How Many Games Will Be Played?
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the league is targeting a Jan. 1 start date for the 2020-21 season. If that date is met, it’s possible that a full 82-game schedule could be played. However, Bettman has also said that the league is prepared to start the season later and play fewer games if necessary.
What If There Are No Games Played This Year?
While it’s impossible to predict the future, we can take a look at what would happen if there were no games played this year.
First of all, it’s important to understand that the NHL is a business. And like any business, their main goal is to make money. So if they were to cancel the season, they would lose a lot of money.
In addition to the financial impact, there would also be a huge impact on the players. Most of them are paid per game, so if there were no games played, they would not get paid. This could lead to some players retiring, as they would not be able to make a living playing hockey.
Finally, there would be a huge impact on the fans. Hockey is a religion in Canada, and cancelling the season would be devastating for many fans. It would also have a ripple effect on the businesses that rely on hockey fans, such as restaurants and bars near arenas.
So while we hope that the NHL season will go ahead as planned, we must be prepared for the possibility that it will not.
Conclusion
The NHL has not yet announced how many games will be played in the 2020-2021 season, but it is expected to be a shortened season of around 50-60 games. This is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced the league to delay the start of the season until at least January 1, 2021.
