* New * NHL 21 Launch Date News! When Will You Get The Game?

Big news Monday from EA regarding the future of NHL 21! Here is the info we got!

Reference Link ----> https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-20/news/nhl21-update​

• The game will be launched for PS4 and Xbox One BUT will be able to be played on the new GEN consoles via forward compatibility.
• The official launch date will be October 16th, with early access for anyone who orders the deluxe or ultimate edition of the game.
• No features have been compromised due to EA working from home during the pandemic.

What does this all mean for the LGHL and LG? A lot of players have been asking these questions. I have the proposed schedule completed for the community to review. Here is a quick preview:

• Fall Season - Xbox [S37] - PS4 [S15]
  • NHL Bidding - Oct 18th - 19th - 20th
  • AHL Bidding - Oct 22nd - 23rd - 24th
  • CHL Bidding - Oct 28th - 29th - 30th
  • Opening Night - Nov 1st
  • Season - Nov 1st until Dec 22nd
  • Holiday Break - Dec 23rd - Jan 3rd
  • Playoffs [1-4] - Jan 3rd until Jan 26th
    
    
• Winter Season - Xbox [S38] - PS4 [S16]
  • Off-season Jan 27th - Feb 7th
  • NHL Bidding - Feb 7th - 8th - 9th
  • AHL Bidding - Feb 11th - 12th - 13th
  • CHL Bidding - Feb 15th - 16th - 17th
  • Opening Night - Feb 21st
  • Season - Feb 21st until April 20th
  • Playoffs [R1-R4] - April 25th until May 25th
    
    
• Summer Season - Xbox [S39] - PS4 [S17]
  • Off-season May 26th - June 6th
  • NHL Bidding - June 6th - 7th - 8th
  • AHL Bidding - June 10th - 11th - 12th
  • CHL Bidding - June 13th - 14th - 15th
  • Opening Night - June 20th
  • Season June 20th - August 17th
  • Playoffs [R1 -R4] - August 22t - TBD [Sept]

Reference Link >>> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rRyo2GkUpsflyt4JPjLUGNYlGNcc8P9iZcDl5yITQC0/edit?usp=sharing

Additional Thoughts

• NHL and AHL PSN will be moved to a 3-3-3 rotation. Personally I'd like to see it OFFSET from XBOX and be more of a MON - TUES - WED rotation to allow more players to play both consoles in both leagues. I don't think this will be a popular decision so the alternative maybe we to see the NHL and AHL game times be flipped for one side. IE: NHL PSN [8:30-9:30-10:30] NHL XBOX [9-10-11]. AHL PSN [9-10-11] AHL Xbox [9:30-10:30-11]. This will be explored more and likely go to another community vote.
  
  
• Unsure at this time if the CHL on both sides will move to a 3-3-3 rotation. The goal will be to move into stage two of the expansion plan which will be to maintain what we accomplished this season.
  
  
• I have another plan I'd like to review community-wide which would be to run a season that rather than 3-3-3 would be 4-4-4. The season would be 6 weeks of 12 games[four per skater] and one week on 10 games. It wouldn't matter to me if it was FALL - WINTER - SUMMER season, but shortening the season by two weeks it would allow us to not spill into SEPT of 2021. The move would mean we logically need to make some adjustments to waivers and trade deadlines etc. I am going to work on a proposal, have staff review it and we can post it. The WINTER season ALWAYS has the highest number of signups we see every season, therefore it may be the ideal season to try this new rotation. Then if this shortened schedule is enjoyed, we could carry into the summer season as well.

For those of you who use twitter be sure to follow:

@leaguegaming [league - site - ESHL event news]
@_LG_McDonald [league - site news]
@ChelComms [NHL 21 News and Updates]


If you have any questions please reply to this thread and @LG McDonald in your reply!

Enjoy!
-Brodie

 

The game is for PS4 with the ability to play it on your PS5

 

Xbox loves it

 

A couple questions:

-Fall Season: 8 weeks only? Then break, then immediately playoffs?
-Fall Season: NHL Bidding 2-5 days after the game is released. Are we going to have the numbers/players with the game at the time, and for that level of play, signed up?