Weeks after the NHL wrapped up it’s bubble season by handing the Stanley Cup to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the league says they are targeting a Jan. 1 start date for the 2020-21 season.

As he kicked off the draft Tuesday night, Bettman made the announcement.

“It was just over a week ago that we celebrated the successful completion of our 2019-20 return to play with the crowning of the Tampa Bay Lightning as Stanley Cup champions,” Bettman said. “Based upon what we have learned and what we know and what we still don’t know, I can say that we are now focused on a Jan. 1 start for next season.”

The league has yet to announce a start date for training camps, saying they will be announced at a later date.

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