Toronto Maple Leafs: Latest Rumors On the Start of Next Season

What We Know About When The Toronto Maple Leafs Will Return.

In a normal year, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be about 15 games into the 2020-21 season right about now, but instead we do not know when the NHL will start back up again.

What we know for sure at this moment is that, following the NBA’s announcement that their season is set to begin on December 22nd, the NHL is still targeting a January 1st start date. But even this date is subject to change as the league and players negotiations continue, as well as the ever-changing situation, particularly in the US, with COVID-19.

A Return-to-Play Committee, similar to the one that was instrumental in the success of the playoff bubble, has been formed and continues to speak internally with league executives on a seemingly daily basis. Where the Spring RTP committee featured just five players, this committee currently features 16 players, including names such as Ian Cole, Zach Hyman, Claude Giroux and Ron Hainsey.

The one thing that I can say is certainly off the table is a full-season bubble, though they may adopt a hybrid bubble scenario where, on the road, the players stick close to their hotel unless it’s a full-team outing like golf or a meal, and at home, they see their families but otherwise stay as isolated as possible to minimize risk.

The exact number of games is still up in the air. The working theory right now is that the league wants the Stanley Cup to be awarded by no later than July 15th. This will allow them to get back to a more or less normal schedule for 2021-22, as well as remove any possibility with competing with the Olympics for TV ratings. (Though it must be said that the Olympics at this point are not guaranteed to happen).

The target range will be between 48-72 regular-season games (I would expect something in the lower end of that, like 48-60) with a couple of extra weeks in the schedule as a grace period to account for any games postponed due to COVID-related reasons.

Fans in the stands… rather than being ruled out entirely, it’s a maybe right now. Though that is probably due to a combination of greed and unfounded optimism.

One thing that seems like a lock right now: the all-Canadian division, at least to start the season. As the border will be remaining closed for the foreseeable future, the NHL’s options are simple: temporary division re-alignment, or find temporary American homes for the seven Canadian teams.

As the league has stated they want each team to play in their home building to fulfil sponsorship obligations, I would think the choice is pretty simple. They may also adopt an idea, similar to baseball, of teams playing 2-3 games in a row against the same team to limit travel and exposure.

That’s everything we know right now, though with that targeted early January start date and the need for extended training camps, expect the details to be hammered out and a plan to be announced within the next week or two.

Keep the faith, it won’t be long until the Toronto Maple Leafs are back on the ice.