As expected, no National League team and no Swiss League team will be relegated in the 2020-21 season. The 2021-22 season will thus be played with 13 teams provided the club which wants to be promoted to the higher tier league fulfills the economic criteria set by the league, Keystone-SDA reports.
Furthermore, as there is no relegation, the league qualification will also not take place. However, the players will have to play in 52 instead of 50 games next season. Those two rounds are supposed to be played on November 1 and February 14. According to Blick, the matchups will be drawn.
As of the 2020-21 season, as already reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the National League, as well as the Swiss League, will have a new mode: pre playoffs. Six teams will be directly qualified for the playoffs. Teams placed seventh to tenth will have to fight for the two remaining spots in a best-of-three series.
Also, the CEO's have decided to shake hands on a Gentlemen's Agreement regarding transactions. Players of the NL or the SL who have a valid contract as of May 1 2020 may not be contacted, negotiated with, or signed by any other NL or SL club until the next league assembly on June 17. They have also decided to form a new task force with the purpose of reviewing the current structures.
Everything concerning the import player rule and things that will impact the league by the 2021-22 season will also be discussed at the next league assembly in June.
In other news, Matthias Berner has decided to step down from his position as a member of the Board of Directors due to differing opinions regarding the strategic management of Swiss Ice Hockey.
