NHL announces no trade restrictions for 2020-21 season

While the COVID-19 pandemic has pretty much shut down everything, including the border between Canada and the United States, it appears that it won’t affect how trades get done in the National Hockey League for the 2020-21 season. 

According to Pierre LeBrun, who reported the news on Thursday night’s Insider Trading on TSN after speaking with a league source, there will be no rules preventing inter country trades. While players from Canada to the U.S. or vice versa will still be subject to quarantine protocols in the relevant provinces or states, there will be no restriction just like a “normal” season. 

“There will be no trade restrictions between U.S. and Canadian teams, it is what it is. 

“The league and the PA don’t have any plans to limit trades via the border.”

That’s good news, especially for Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, who was one of the league’s GMs wondering if he would be able to make as many trades as he usually does due to the travel restrictions. He even mentioned the possibility of seeing the NHL turned into the NFL with trades and moves only happening in the offseason. 

While the NHL targeting a Jan. 13 start date for the 2020-21 season for a 56-game schedule, that would make many teams rush to get their roster completed for the start of the calendar. 

Thanks to this report, it sounds like trades won’t be shut down and general managers will only need to counter in the quarantine time for their newly acquired players before they can jump on board.