Boston Bruins: Key Dates to Keep in Mind for 2021

Here are some key dates to keep in mind as the Boston Bruins embark on the 2020-21 season.

With seven NHL teams, Detroit, Ottawa, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Buffalo, and New Jersey, that failed to qualify for the Return to Play over the summer at the two Candian bubbles already beginning training camp on New Years’ Eve Day, the rest of the league is ready to begin their preparation toward the 56-game regular-season sprint toward the playoffs. Here are some key NHL dates on the league calendar to keep in mind as the NHL is 11 days from their Opening Night.

Jan. 3: Bruins Camp Opens

Tomorrow is the day that the Boston Bruins hit the ice officially for the first time. Most of the players have already had group workouts at Warrior Ice Arena, but Sunday is the first-day coach Bruce Cassidy and his staff gets to begin to answer some of the questions facing them.

This will be an interesting 11 days prior to the season opener on Jan. 14 at New Jersey against the Devils. They need to plug at least one hole on their first line with David Pastrnak out and solve the depth chart on defense with Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara leaving in free agency. A lot to figure out in a short amount of time.

Jan. 13: Opening Night

The puck drops on the new season with five games the first night. Pittsburgh is at Philadelphia at 5:30 p.m., before the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning open the season against Chicago at home at 8 p.m. The nightcap has Colorado hosting St. Louis at 10:30. All three games will broadcast nationally on NBCSN.

Two other games that night Vancouver at Edmonton and Montreal at Toronto will be the first two games in the new realigned Canadian Division.

April 12: Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

This is the final chance for teams to add to their roster for a playoff run. It will be interesting to see where the Bruins are at this point and whether or not they will be buyers or sellers.

May 11: Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin

After a 56-game sprint in four months, the playoffs will begin with each of the four new realigned divisions having the top four teams square off. After the first two rounds, each division winner advances to the semifinals against the other three winners and will be seeded based on regular-season points.

July 17: Deadline for Expansion Draft Lists

For the second time in four years, there will be another expansion draft with the Seattle Kracken becoming the 32nd team in October. This will be an interesting list for the Bruins as there is the real possibility that some young players will be lost. The draft will be held four days later on July 21 at 8 p.m.

July 23 and 24: NHL Draft

The first round of the Entry Draft will by July 23, with the second through seventh rounds happening the next day.

July 28: Free Agency Begins (12 p.m. ET)

The free agency frenzy will begin for both restricted and unrestricted free agents. The Bruins will have some key members of the team hitting the market. A lot of decisions will have to made by the front office.

Just like the 2019-20 season, the 2020-21 season will be crazy. However, we are finally ready for hockey to be back and that is something that everyone is looking forward to.