When Will The 2021-2022 NHL Season Start?

The 2020-21 NHL season is still going on, but naturally, most fans are already wondering when the league is starting things off for 2021-2022. A prominent NHL reporter may have the answer.

Sportsnet’s John Shannon 

As Bill Daly told us on @mccownpodcast , the official schedule will be out 3rd week in July. https://t.co/p3QeiaSFM3

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) June 21, 2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted on Monday that the NHL is sending out two drafts of the 2021-22 schedule to teams this week, with a target start date of Tuesday, October 12th, 2021. Thank the Lord! But why two schedule drafts? According to Shannon, the league is planning for one schedule with the Olympics, and one without.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly recently said the 2021-2022 NHL schedule will be officially released by the “3rd week in July,” per Shannon’s report. So it won’t be too long after the league crowns a Stanley Cup champion for 2021. I can’t wait for the new NHL season because I need to route on my Carolina Hurricanes again!

GALLERY: Best of the Carolina Hurricanes 

• Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes pauses during a break in play against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

• Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Jesper Fast #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes battles Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the puck during the third period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tampa Bay won 2-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

• Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30:Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning flips over Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tampa Bay won 2-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
• Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30:Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning flips over Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tampa Bay won 2-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators – Game Six

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 27: Teuvo Teravainen #86, Jaccob Slavin #74 and Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after scoring a goal during overtime for a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 27, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators – Game Six

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 27: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after their 4-3 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 27, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
• Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators – Game Six

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 27: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators makes a save on a shot by Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 27, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v Nashville Predators – Game Six

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 27: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators trips Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 27, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• Nashville Predators v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his team following his second goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 19, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
• Nashville Predators v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates following a goal scored during the first period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators at PNC Arena on May 19, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

• Nashville Predators v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

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  RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 17: Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ben Harpur #17 of the Nashville Predators battle for possession during the third period in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 17, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v Boston Bruins – Game Five

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  TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 19: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Matt Grzelcyk #48 of the Boston Bruins collide during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 19, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
• Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders – Game Two

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  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders – Game Two

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  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

• Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders – Game Two

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  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Curtis McElhinney #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes the save in the closing minutes of a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)