A Carolina Hurricanes Guide to the Shortened Season

Aug 15, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour talks with his team during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour talks with his team during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 15, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour talks with his team during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour talks with his team during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Carolina Hurricanes are going into a very unique NHL Season.

The Carolina Hurricanes are getting ready to kick off their season with play starting in a few short weeks. Here is a guide to exactly what to expect this season.

It’s finally here. For many fans, it has been a wait since last March, about nine whole months ago, since they have watched their team take the ice. For Caniacs, it’s only been since about four and a half. But in 2020 time, that is about a few human lifetimes.

But it is finally here and it is real. The 2020-2021 NHL Season (I would call it the 2021 NHL Season if it wasn’t for the fact that there will be a second NHL season start this year, hopefully) will begin January 13th kicking off with many of the teams quickly getting acquainted with the new season and the new way of play.

There will be a very short training camp and the ball (or in this case, puck) will roll straight into the new season, leaving us with a strange and new experience. Just when you thought having the playoffs last year without any fans all in Canada was weird, the NHL is about to become even more stranger.

For one, there will be all-new divisions if you haven’t noticed already with a Canadian or North Division being the driving factor with the border between the two nations in the league being a concern during the pandemic. This will factor into the playoffs of course with zero wildcards and only the top four teams from each division making it in.

There will also only be 56 games played compared to the usual 82 to fit into the shortened timeline.  Speaking of timelines, I know the first question on everyone’s mind. When is it finally going to happen for the Carolina Hurricanes? When will the playoffs start? So let’s start with that.