The National Hockey League has adjusted the trade deadline for the 2015-16 season to take into account the leap year in 2016.
That’s right, that pesky quad-annual event that adds a day to February is going to have a massive (read: very tiny) effect on the coming NHL season. The 2016 trade deadline will be on February 29 at 3pm EST, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. So, expect lots of puns on the 29th about how Daniel Winnik leaps from a sinking ship in Toronto or how teams are trying to leap forward with an acquisition.
Last season the deadline fell on Monday, March 2. This year it will fall on what is essentially that first Monday in March, except that the leap year makes that February 29.
With last season starting on October 8 and this coming season starting on October 7, the trade deadline still occurs on the 146th day of the season.
The 2016 season kicks off on October 7 with the Los Angeles Kings facing their rival San Jose Sharks, the Vancouver Canucks taking on the Calgary Flames, the New York Rangers facing the almost-a-dynasty Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the Montreal Canadiens.
