Flyers Return-to-Play Primer
On Sunday afternoon, the return-to-play agreement for the 2020-21 National Hockey League season became official. Here's what the plan means for the Flyers
TRAINING CAMP
Training camp will start in Voorhees on January 3 and will run for 10 days. Due to the short duration and the still-delayed American Hockey League season (see below), there will not be a Rookie Camp phase. More importantly, the Flyers, like all NHL clubs, will not play any exhibition games.
Under the return-to-play plan, the Flyers can carry a maximum of 36 skaters and unlimited goaltenders during training camp. Expect the first cuts to come swiftly after the start of camp.
A number of contracted Flyers players who a) are on loan to European teams during the prolonged NHL offseason and b) who are likely to be sent to the Phantoms once the AHL season starts, will remain in Europe until that time. That list could include the likes of German Rubtsov, David Kase, Linus Högberg, Maksim Sushko and goaltender Felix Sandström.
OPENING NIGHT ROSTER & TAXI SQUAD
The Flyers' regular season roster, as per normal, is limited to 23 players. However, the return-to-play plan permits all NHL teams to carry a taxi squad of four to six players. Unless the Flyers opt to carry three goaltenders on their NHL roster, which appears unlikely, there must be at least one goalie on the taxi squad.
Veteran netminder Alex Lyon is a virtual lock for the "No. 3 goalie" spot, while young goalie Kirill Ustimenko could also get a taxi squad spot. Both players were Black Aces in the "Bubble" in Toronto during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
What is the difference between a regular season taxi squad and playoff Black Aces? Game-day availability. In the playoffs, rosters expand. The Black Aces are players who are added to the playoff roster. Most are unlikely to get into any games but all are available to start in any game at the discretion of the head coach. Conversely, while the taxi squad also travels and practices with the team, none of the players are eligible to play in a game unless they are formally recalled to the big club.
For taxi squad players who are on entry-level contracts -- rookie Egor Zamula would be an example, unless he wins an opening night roster spot -- no waivers are required to be assigned to the taxi squad. Veteran players require waivers to be moved from the NHL roster to the taxi squad. Essentially, these are the same rules that apply to assigning players to the American Hockey League.
EASTERN DIVISION
The regular season will start on January 13 and will end no later than May 8.
The ongoing closure of the U.S./Canada border and the pandemic-related risks of increased exposure during travel has resulted in the NHL temporarily realigning and renaming its divisions for the 2020-21 season.
The Flyers will play in the eight-team Eastern DIvision, along with the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. EVERY game the Flyers play during the regular season will take place within their division.
The regular season will be 56 games in duration.
In other words, the Flyers will play eight games apiece -- four at the Wells Fargo Center, four on the road -- against the Bruins, Sabres, Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Penguins and Capitals. It figures to be a highly competitive Division. From a travel standpoint, however, the realignment simplifies matters. The Flyers will not have to travel any further north than Boston, any further west than Pittsburgh, or any further south than the District of Columbia.
2020-21 REGULAR SEASON GAME SCHEDULE
The NHL schedule has not been released yet as of this writing. An announcement is expected this week.
The Flyers will have access to play their home games at the Wells Fargo Center. In every NHL market, state and city ordinances (or provincial and city rules in Canada) on indoor gathering limits will dictate how many fans -- if any -- can be admitted to the games. This is a fluid issue that can change over the course of the season.
TRADE DEADLINE
The NHL trade deadline will be on April 12, 2021.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the Eastern Division will make the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs will consist of the first-place team playing the fourth-place team, while the second-place team will play the third-place club. To two winning teams in the first round will play each other in the second round.
The same format is in place for the other three conferences. The four division champions will advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals.
LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS 2020-21 SEASON
The American Hockey League has targeted a Feb. 5, 2021, start to the season. If and when the AHL gets going, the need for a taxi squad will go away. The AHL has its own set of issues to work out before its season can commence; theirs is not an exact parallel to the National Hockey League model. At the point the season begins, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms will return.
However, the ECHL's Reading Royals will not play this season. Every team in the North Division, including the Royals, opted out of participating in the 2020-21 season. The Royals will return for the 2021-22 season.
OFFSEASON
The Stanley Cup will be awarded during the first week in July. Thereafter, there will be a whirlwind of activity to take care of offseason business and return to a more customary regular season and playoff schedule for the 2020-21 season. Key offseason dates to know:
* July 21, 2021: NHL Expansion Draft. The Flyers will lose one -- and only one -- unprotected player to the new Seattle Kraken club, which will begin play for the 2021-22 season.
* July 23-24, 2021: NHL Entry Draft.
* July 28, 2021: Free agency begins.
