- We focus on January 1 as the start of the new season.

Our hope is to have a whole season with the fans in the stands.

But there is a lot that needs to happen before we can nail our plans, much of it is beyond our control, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the NHL Network ahead of this year's draft.

The league previously had plans to be able to start the season already on December 1 this year, but it seems to be too early.

Due to the postponed corona season, last season did not end until September 28 when Victor Hedman's Tampa Bay won the sixth Stanley Cup final against Dallas.

January 1 is normally the date of the big outdoor game "Winter Classic" in the NHL.

MORE NHL: Holtz after the successful draft: "How cool at all"

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Alexander Holtz finished seventh overall in the NHL draft.

Photo: Bildbyrån / SVT Sport