Report: NHL players, owners prefer MLB-style homestands

The majority of players and owners think the upcoming NHL season should feature MLB-style three-game series, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski.

However, due to COVID-19 restrictions in California and Manitoba, it's possible the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Winnipeg Jets won't be able to play in their home buildings to start the season.

Those restrictions could be lifted before the season starts (Jan. 13 is reportedly the new target date). But if the regulations remain in place, temporarily relocating the teams in question to other NHL arenas to start the campaign is under consideration.

Los Angeles and Anaheim were reportedly among the seven clubs that looked into playing home games outdoors. Anschutz Entertainment Group owns the Kings, Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy, and Dignity Health Sports Park - a 27,000-seat outdoor stadium in Carson, California. The Kings and Ducks have reportedly discussed sharing the facility.

Using hybrid bubbles or hubs is still reportedly a possibility, too. If a hub city is used, teams would travel to a location for two weeks to play around 10 games. A squad would then return home for a week before going back to the hub. A hybrid bubble would be similar to the playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, but not nearly as strict.

New Jersey, Columbus, and Las Vegas are reportedly three U.S. cities receiving attention to be potential hubs. Arenas in all three areas are home to only one primary tenant, with two sheets of ice on-site or nearby and enough hotel accommodations.

If hubs or bubbles are required, it's possible the start of the season could be pushed back to early February.

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