Breaking: NHL Draft date changed

The NHL is reportedly moving the 2020 NHL Entry Draft up a few days from October 9th-10th, 2020 to October 6th-7th, 2020. This is according to a report from Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

Check it out:

NHL Draft is being moved ahead a couple of days. First round Oct 6, rest on Oct. 7.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 8, 2020

No indication why the NHL has made this decision, but I'll presume it's because they feel that the Stanley Cup Final will wrap up earlier than initially anticipated. Rather than have a few days or a week of dead time following the Cup Final and the NHL Entry Draft wouldn't normally be a problem in a normal season, but 2019-20 is anything but a normal season. It's expected that free agency will open the weekend following the Draft, which would be that same October 9th-10th weekend.

No firm dates for the 2020-21 season have been given, but it's expected that training camps will start sometime in mid-November with the season to officially begin on December 1st. Stay tuned.

Tentative dates as of two months ago:

Tentative dates as part of the new CBA:

Stanley Cup Final - 9/20 to 10/2
2020 NHL Draft - 10/6
2020 Free Agency - later of 10/9 or 7 days after Cup Finals end
2020/21 Training Camp Start - 11/17
Start of 2020/21 Season - 12/1

All subject to change.
— NHL News (@puck_report2) July 8, 2020

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