The Blackhawks will play 56 games in the 2021 NHL season, which was officially announced Sunday by the league.
Eight of those games will be against the Red Wings.
Indeed, seven seasons after the historical rivals were separated by the Wings’ move to the Eastern Conference in 2013, the Hawks and Wings’ rivalry will return in full force — albeit for one year only.
That’s because, with the ongoing pandemic-related Canadian border closure, the league — as had been rumored for months — realigned the 24 U.S. teams into three divisions of eight teams each and the seven Canadian teams into one “North Division.” Teams will exclusively play intra-divisional opponents.
For the Hawks, that means their 2021 Central Division opponents will be the Wings, Stars, Blue Jackets, Predators, Hurricanes, Panthers and Lightning — a list that includes both 2020 Stanley Cup finalists and the home of beloved former coach Joel Quenneville.
The Wings and Hawks’ eight planned 2021 meetings will match their total from the past four seasons combined. In 2019-20, the Hawks won 4-2 at home Jan. 5 and lost 2-1 in Detroit on March 6, their final road game before the shutdown.
Sunday’s announcement did not include an actual schedule for the 2021 season, but confirmed several dates previously reported Friday, including a Jan. 3 start to training camp and a Jan. 13 start to the regular season. There will be no preseason games.
Here are additional dates of note for the 2021 season and offseason, per CapFriendly:
- April 12: Trade deadline
- May 8: Regular season ends
- May 11: Playoffs begin
- July 15: Playoffs end
- July 21: Seattle Kraken expansion draft
- July 23-24: NHL entry draft
- July 28: Free agency begins
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs. Getting in that conversation could be an uphill climb for the rebuilding Hawks, though.
Sunday’s announcement did not include specifics about COVID-19 protocols, which are expected to be strict but not as strict as during the 2020 postseason bubbles.
“While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play,” commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
The league will try to play games in teams’ home arenas as much as possible, but left open the possibility of neutral or hub sites if necessary.
Fans are not expected to be allowed in most arenas, likely including the United Center, “at least in the initial part of the season.”
