Season Update

In case you have been living under a rock the NHL and in addition the AHL have declared starting dates for the Pandemic-delayed 2020-2021 season.

The NHL is set to start a shortened 56 game season on January 13th with the playoffs beginning in May and the Stanley Cup being awarded in July before the Olympics.

The AHL has in turn announced a tentative start date of February 5th as agreed to by the board of governors today, although many questions still remain. The biggest of which is whether or not there will be time for a Calder Cup playoff series and what it might look like. The NHL is set to finish before the Olympics start due to NBC holding the broadcasting rights. The AHL has no such obligation but at the same time would not want the season to run into the beginnings of other leagues traditional starting points.

Other sticking points are whether some of the independent franchises will have the financial backing or incentive to take part in a season with likely little to no gate revenue. From the Pacific divisions’ point of view – being that every club (with the exception of Colorado) is owned by their respective NHL parent club franchise, the financial side of things may not be an issue.

There have been rumblings that some of the independently owned teams may share with another independently owned team to divide costs – meaning less teams overall.

A potential positive for this season is the fact that the Canadian Hockey Leagues have all either been shut down after an attempted start or were unable to start in the first place. This would mean the usual CHL age rule concerning prospects drafted out of those leagues would not apply this season. For the Gulls that means recent 2020 draftees Jamie Drysdale and Jacob Perrault as well as 2019 late first round pick Brayden Tracey could make their pro debuts. Bob Murray has already made mention of wanting to get these players some much needed development.

The situation is still fluid – but for now; all signs are pointing up that their will be an AHL season in some way, shape or form and although it will be far from a normal one – it will still be entertaining.

Meanwhile in the ECHL:

In the mean time several players that were set to make their pro debuts this season have been taking part in the partial ECHL season (partial because not all clubs are taking part). Max Golod has been the standout with a goal and an assist in three games for the Tulsa Oilers so far. Bryce Kindopp and Jack Badini are scoreless while Olle Eriksson Ek has a 3.03 GAA and .905 SV% with one win and a loss through two games. Roman Durny has 5.00 GAA and .872 SV% in one loss.

Oh and the World Juniors:

It has been the Trevor Zegras story thus far at the World Juniors and it has been great to see but also leaves me with a sense of disappointment as his stellar form makes it harder to see him on the Gulls for any extended length of time this season – he is just too good. As of writing this, he leads all scoring in the tournament with ten points in three games. Other Ducks prospects include Albin Sundsvik who has two points in two games playing on Swedens top line (due to shortages in their line-up), Jamie Drysdale (two points in three games), Sam Colangelo (one goal in three games with limited ice time), Henry Thrun (one assist in three games) and Jackson Lacombe who is scoreless through two games.