Key dates as per Pierre LeBrun, Darren Dreger, Frank Seravalli, Bob McKenzie and Elliotte Friedman from December 20, 2020
- Opt-out deadline: December 24 for non-playoff teams, December 27 for everyone else
- Regular season start: January 13
- RFA signing deadline (the usual December 1 one): February 11
- Players on one-year deals may sign extensions: March 12
- Regular season end: May 8
- Trade deadline: April 12
- Playoffs over by July 15 at the latest
- Protected lists due for the expansion draft on July 17
- Expansion draft: July 21
- Entry Draft: July 23-24
- Free agency begins: July 28