More games canceled: Drop-dead date in mid-January?

So the NHL announced that all games through January 14 have been canceled, a move that was expected since there was no CBA in place. Ho hum.

There is apparently a drop-dead date in mid-January, and the NHL won’t play less than 48 games this year. In 1994-1995 the NHL played 48 games, with the season beginning on January 20 and ending in May.

If that is the same time frame, then a deal needs to be in place by January 10 at the absolute latest. It’s a fair assumption that there needs to be a ten day buffer between agreement on a new CBA and the start of the season. There needs to be three days for the players to get back to their teams, and another seven days for training camp.

If that drop-dead date is a true date, then we will know by mid-January if there will be a season. The next cancellation could be the last.