Report: NHL considering postponing 2021 draft to '22

As the NHL continues to work through the logistics of its current season, the draft - currently set to begin July 23 - could be the next thing to be significantly affected.

There are ongoing conversations at the NHL level surrounding the idea of pushing back the 2021 draft until the following year, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."

"There's lots of talk across the National Hockey League about the draft being pushed from 2021 - this summer - to 2022 - the summer - and the NHL hosting back-to-back drafts," Dreger said.

General managers are very much in favor of the idea of delaying the draft, Dreger added. Many 2021-eligible players currently aren't playing hockey due to their respective leagues being on pause as a result of the pandemic.

The NHL has never hosted two drafts in the same year.

The league indicated prior to the start of the campaign that July 15 would be the last possible day to award the Stanley Cup. With numerous games already postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, it's unclear if the end of the season will need to be pushed back.