The NHL will send teams to the Edmonton hub on July 26. Games resume Aug. 1 under the league's current schedule. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Stanley Cup Final to end Oct. 2 at latest

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/8/20

The NHL hopes to complete the 24-team model to finish the 2019-20 season by crowning a Stanley Cup champion no later than Oct. 2.

This, from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who tweeted the news along with other dates on Wednesday:

Stanley Cup Final: Sept. 20-Oct. 2, at latest
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 8, 2020

According to Friedman, the Final gets underway Sept. 20, which means only one day off will separate fixtures. This makes sense since travel won't be an issue at either the Toronto or Edmonton hub site.

Friedman added the tentative date for the NHL Draft is Oct. 6, and that training camps could begin around Nov. 17 for a 2020-21 opening night of Dec. 1.

All dates and plans are subject to change due to the pandemic and, specifically, rising coronavirus cases throughout the United States. On Wednesday, an Edmonton medical facility reported a virus outbreak among patients and staff members. The NHL is still planning to send teams to the Edmonton hub on July 26.

Games resume Aug. 1 under the league's current schedule.

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