UPDATED:
Looks like we’re going to have a 2021 NHL season after all.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday night that the league and NHL Players Association reached a tentative agreement on a 56-game season, hopefully to begin Jan. 13.
Friedman has the details here (click on the NHL logo):
BREAKING: The NHL and NHLPA have reached a tentative deal on a 56-game season.https://t.co/F0q0X8RPrN
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 19, 2020
With that in mind, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon recently had a lengthy interview on the High Button Podcast with host Justin Belanger, who also is from Halifax and had a proverbial cup of coffee with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Mooseheads, for whom MacKinnon starred from 2011-13.
Make sure to check out the full video podcast we did with @Mackinnon9 #HBsports 🇨🇦 https://t.co/0JOdpZ0eCM pic.twitter.com/Y9V3cZlcTU
— High Button Sports (@thehighbutton) December 16, 2020
MacKinnon, a two-time Hart Trophy finalist and last season’s Lady Byng Trophy winner, said he’s excited about the upcoming season, has been working out at his home gym and has done plenty of skating.
The goal is to bring the Stanley Cup to Denver for the first time since 2001. The Avalanche have lost in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals the past two seasons, to the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.
“I guess we’re the favorites this season,… said MacKinnon, who had 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) in 69 games last season with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 15 postseason games.
“I guess (it will be) a shortened year, if we ever get this thing going, but we’re excited,… MacKinnon said. “The big thing, though, is we need to focus on the process. We’re not going to win a Cup in January or in training camp.
“We need to take care of training camp, get better every day. It’s a cliche, but it’s true -- play well every night, grow, fix the things and hopefully head into the playoffs flying.…
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Defenseman Bowen Byram was named an assistant captain for Team Canada in the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships. The tournament runs from Christmas Day through Jan. 5 at Rogers place in Edmonton.
Two other Avalanche prospects, Alex Newhook and Justin Barron, also will play for Canada, while Drew Helleson will play for Team USA.
Check out the line combinations and defense pairings for Canada’s first practice Friday:
Dec. 18 | Practice lines for the first skate in Edmonton.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/dGv2baDrqH
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 18, 2020