The NHL and its players’ union have a collective bargaining agreement in place and a tentative Jan. 1 start to a 2021 season. But the Avalanche and the league’s 30 other teams have enough concerns about COVID-19 to push the start date back or possibly not play at all. In other words, the NHL season is up in the air, and the Avalanche and its championship-caliber roster could be among the most affected because its window to win is now. Despite agreeing to COVID-19 concessions for the 2020-21 season in July while extending the CBA through 2025-26, owners now want player escrow to grow from 20% to 25% and deferrals from 10% to 20% for the 2021 season.