Flyers Farm

AHL announces 2021 season

by
Sean Cobourn
December 30, 2020

(Lehigh Valley Phantoms)

The AHL announced today that their Board of Governors have agreed on a structural framework for the 2021 season.

.@TheAHL Board of Governors has approved the structural framework for an AHL season that will begin on February 5, 2021. pic.twitter.com/l5Yk0z2rht
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) December 30, 2020

The season is slated to start on February 5th, but there’s still a lot of hurdles the league needs to jump.

Some teams might not be able to participate, especially those not directly owned by an NHL team. No team has ruled out yet, but there’s reportedly an opt-out date of January 4th.

Okay, have a bit more information to add.

January 4th will be the opt-out date.

I've been told that *as of now* no team has officially ruled out playing this season. Teams are assessing their next steps.#AHL
— PATRICK WILLIAMS (@pwilliamsNHL) December 30, 2020

I also have been told to expect teams to back-load their schedule. In other words, the schedule would start slowly as teams adjust to the new circumstances, and then the schedule would ramp up from there.

Playing out of practice facilities is also likely for some teams.#AHL
— PATRICK WILLIAMS (@pwilliamsNHL) December 30, 2020

It’s about to get weird in the American Hockey League. Although, I wouldn’t expect fans attending games in the Lehigh Valley anytime soon.