(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)The NHL announced Sunday the league will begin its 2020-21 season on Jan. 13. Teams will play 56 games in this pandemic-shortened season. The expansion draft (Seattle’s first season in the league is 2021-22) will be held July 21. Realigned divisions, playoff seeding alteredThe divisions are realigning due to the cross-border travel ban between Canada and the United States. Follow NHL return to play updates here:

EDMONTON, AB – Gary Bettman will take his first sigh of relief in months when he presents the Stanley Cup. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly had more questions of their own than answers next season, though it's always been questionable if it will start on Dec. 1 as tentatively planned. “If there’s an option to consider, believe me, we’re considering it,” Bettman said during his annual pre- Stanley Cup Final news conference. “Our goal is to get back to as great a sense of normalcy as possible under whatever circumstances are presented,” Bettman said. Before the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning opened the final, Bettman acknowledged he's not taking a victory lap yet.

DETROIT Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond are the longest-currently-serving broadcast duo in the league. It was tough when the Red Wings Season abruptly ended this year, so it was nice to see each other again, six feet apart of course. Ive got NHL stars and Hollywood celebrities.Ken Daniels is also keeping hockey alive in Hockeytown with his Instagram account: KendanielsTV. He said it could be seven months or more before the Red Wings hit the ice again. More: Red Wings NewsMore: Benched

The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday that formal training camps for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10. The league calls this its “Phase 3” of return-to-play plan. In May, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the regular season was officially over but the playoffs will continue with 24 teams. Now, Phase 3 has a date for starting July 10 “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” according to the league. The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date, the NHL says.

FILE - In this May 27, 2019, file photo, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins, in Boston. Bettman unveiled a 24-team straight to playoffs format the league will use if it can clear the other hurdles to resume its season. The NHL and the NHL Players' Association must still figure out health and safety protocols and solve other issues, including where to play. Bettman has said the goal has always been to play again and award the Stanley Cup, but details remain uncertain. For us to even finish the season and award (the Stanley Cup), I know a lot of work went into it.

Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to offer details on the NHLs return to play during a news conference at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Insiders say Bettman will discuss the 24-team format agreement reached by the NHL and the NHLPA players union. From the NHL: ``National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman will make an announcement today at 4:30 p.m. Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 26, 2020PROGRAMMING NOTE:@NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will appear on NBCSN today to make an announcement about the league's Return To Play Plan. ET NBCSN NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 26, 2020It is expected the details of the NHL draft and draft lottery timing/format will be part of todays big reveal by the NHL on RTP format(s).