League sources reports the NHL will allow fans to attend games in some markets

As you know by now, the National Hockey League is inching closer to puck drop for the 2020-21 season, targeting January 13th for the start date of the calendar. 

It sounds like more good news might be on the way, however, it might be good to some fans only. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has reported that a league source has informed him that the NHL will allow fans to attend games in markets where local & state/provincial regulations allow it. Details will be revealed once the 2020-21 season plans finalized. 

The NHL will follow local/state/provincial regulations with respect to having fans in arenas and all the associated/applicable protocols. Whenever the percentage of capacity in an arena increases or decreases, the NHL and its respective Clubs will follow those rules in each market.

This came to be known after the NBA’s Raptors, who were recently relocated to Tampa Bay from Toronto due to COVID-19 travelling restrictions, announced they’ll have fans at their home games in Tampa (up to 3,800/game). 

While the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning has yet to make such an announcement the league source sure has some good news for some hockey fans out there missing the live action. 

Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period recently reported the Boston Bruins were looking at the possibility of having up to 7,500 fans in attendance.

However, the idea of hybrid bubbles or hubs has been floating around for a while now. If a hub city is used, teams would travel to a location for two weeks to play around 10 games. Clubs would then return home for a week before going back to the hub. A hybrid bubble would be similar to the playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, but not nearly as strict. Toronto and Edmonton would remain the top options for the Canadian division. New Jersey, Columbus, and Las Vegas are reportedly three U.S. cities receiving the most attention to become potential hubs south of the border. Arenas in all three areas are home to only one primary tenant, with two sheets of ice on-site or nearby and enough hotel accommodations.

Will you get to attend a game to see your favourite team in action? Keep your fingers crossed, you might find out soon enough!