NHL: Time to make Jan. 13 a National Holiday for all hockey fans

Jan. 13, 2021 needs to become a National Holiday for all NHL fans.

After weeks of speculation, weeks of twists and turns and a slither of doom and gloom, it appears as though the NHL will finally be back on Jan. 13, 2021.

Yes, according to multiple reports, the 2020-21 NHL season will finally get underway on Jan. 13, 2021 with a shortened 56-game regular season expected to be confirmed.

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There’s still lots of details to be thrashed out but it wouldn’t be surprising if the NHL’s full plan of attack is revealed at some point this week.

Whenever the Press Release hits our Twitter timeline, though, expect a meaty document outlining the exact plan for the regular season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams playing at their own arenas and Division Realignment.

We know that we will get an All-Canadian Division in 2020-21 – an exciting proposition indeed – and details have emerged on the makeup of the other proposed Divisions.

We will be breaking down everything you need to know about the 2020-21 NHL season on Monday, outlining everything out there at the moment because a lot of information has emerged in recent days.

But, for now, it is time for hockey fans to rejoice.

In a year that will go down as one of the worst in mankind, it did seem feasible only a few weeks ago that the possibility of not getting an NHL season in 2020-21 was a very real and alarming one.

However, both the NHL and the NHLPA put their financial differences aside over proposed changes to the CBA and, whatever happens in the future, we will be treated to some much-needed hockey very soon.

Of course, the relentless COVID-19 Pandemic could still throw a wrench in the works but, for now at least, let’s keep all the positive vibes going.

It has felt like an eternity since the Tampa Bay Lightning finally put their postseason demons to rest by winning the Stanley Cup in 2019-20 inside The Bubble in Edmonton back in the summer, while it pretty much has been an age since the likes of the Buffalo Sabres, the San Jose Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings last hit a puck in competitive anger.

But that long wait now appears to be nearing a glorious end and Jan. 13, 2021 will be a very sweet day indeed.

How the NHL will approach that opening day remains to be seen but, given the year we’ve had and the wait we have had to deal with without any hockey in our life, it would be nice if the league put on a full schedule to kickstart the 2020-21 season in true style.

Just imagine, after months without hockey in our lives we get treated to a full mouthwatering feast of hockey on opening night?

Now that is something I’m sure we can all get behind.

It is pretty damn exciting just to think about the NHL’s return and a shortened season has all the ingredients to become an absolute compelling and thrilling marathon race for the postseason.

Every single game will now take on that extra bit of importance and, while the 2020-21 season will look unlike any other, it should be a hell of a lot of fun to watch and to report on.

Again, there’s a lot more to come and we will get into the nuts and bolts of all the intricate details and logistics on Monday, but the NHL is on its way back and it is the perfect early holiday gift for all hockey fanatics.

And, as a result, I’m all for Jan. 13, 2021 being named a National Holiday in honor of the National Hockey League making a triumphant return.