Who would have thought after a year of dealing with COVID-19 that there would be some changes to how the NHL operates? I’m actually kind of shocked seeing as they usually end up doing things too late after there is already a problem. 

Anywho. 

In addition to a team normal roster, typically consisting of around 23 players, NHL squads will have Taxi Squads this year. I have heard this term thrown around for months now with a brief understanding of what it meant. Now that the season is actually on the horizon (like, starting tomorrow) I needed to figure out exactly how they were going to work. 

I figured if I didn’t know, someone else might not either. So, I’m here to deliver the information - even if it’s only so I can remember. 

NHL teams will have Taxi Squads consisting of 4 to 6 players. They still have to pass through waivers as if the player were being sent to the minors. The difference here is that these players will stay with the NHL club. It’s a work-around rule so the technical allowed roster size will remain the same. In reality, teams will have a roster size allowance of 4 to 6 more players. 

Still with me?

Taxi Squad players can be added to the active roster up until 5:00 pm ET on the day of a game. Teams are required to carry at least 3 goaltenders between their active roster and Taxi Squad. In a normal season, teams carry 2 goaltenders and let their depth goaltenders play in the AHL. Having three goaltenders for the 2021-21 season decreases the likelihood of scrambling for someone to fill in that role should your #1 or #2 get injured or test positive for COVID. 

NHL teams can still call up players from the AHL, but there is a quarantine period of 7 days before they can hit the ice. With a condensed schedule and many back-to-backs, having 2 goaltenders and no Taxi Squad would probably lead to chaos and very short benches. Even if you take positive COVID tests out of the picture, injuries are a normal part of any season. 

There you have it. That’s how your 2020-21 NHL Taxi Squads will work. I’m wondering if they will keep them going forward if they end up working well. Only time will tell. 

We don’t yet have the confirmed opening day roster or Taxi Squad for the Blackhawks. The only assumption I have is Kevin Lankinen is their Taxi Squad goaltender.