Sunday: The NHL Board of Governors has approved the agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA with a tentative start on Jan. 13th, according to NHL.com’s John Shannon.
Friday: A resolution may finally be within reach for the league and its players on a format for the 2020-21 season. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports this evening that the NHL and NHLPA have reached a tentative agreement on the terms of season, which would include a 56-game regular season schedule.
Of course, no agreement between the sides can be finalized until it is approved by each independently first. On that note, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the NHLPA and its player reps are expected to meet tonight while the NHL Board of Governors will meet this weekend.
Among the details trickling in are as follows:
- The league will start on January 13 as hoped, per TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. Lavoie adds that the agreed-upon plan does include an all-Canadian division, as expected, though concerns exist about the logistics of cross-province travel.
- TSN’s Frank Seravalli echoes that January 13 start date, though he opines that all dates could be subject to change. That includes training camp start dates as well, which he expects to be December 30 for the seven 2019-20 non-playoff teams and January 3 for all others.
- Seravalli also reports that rosters are expected to remain at 23 players, but that each team may carry a taxi squad of four to six players who will travel and practice with the team, but will be paid their AHL salaries and will not count against the salary cap.
- Seravalli adds that all players will be given the right to opt out of the season for personal or familial health concerns and that teams will have the decision of whether or not to toll the contract.
- Friedman notes that salaries will not be pro-rated despite the shortened season. He also confirms that thre will be no preseason exhibition games.
- Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater reports that the tentative plan is for every team to play out of their home building this season, at least at the outset, rather than playing in hub cities as some had speculated.
- With the league expected to be broken down into four realigned divisions without any conference alignment, Friedman reports that each division will produce four playoff teams and the postseason will be inter-division until four division winners become the semifinalists for the 2021 Stanley Cup.
meanwhile in the MLB…owners – “two games, take it or leave it.”
Hockey players have to be the most agreeable athletes ever. Maybe it’s the humility of living with host families for a few seasons as they climb the ranks. Maybe they appreciate things more
“Friedman notes that salaries will not be pro-rated despite the shortened season. He also confirms that thre will be no preseason exhibition games.”
It’s really hard to explain how much better Don Fehr is at his job than Tony Clark is at his job.
Same is true of Bettman vs Manfred, too though, FTR.
Yup. Hockey is facing the exact same issues as baseball did 7 months ago and there wasn’t a nasty public back and forth.
i think a lot has to do how the pie is split up in both sports and also think the owners and players still remember what a lockout can do to a sport.
also the realignment without hubs seems kinda odd. besides the border restrictions i dont see that really helping any.
I wonder if it’s because they’re open to the possibility of fans eventually being allowed to attend, even if in limited numbers.
Still paying same price for NHL Center ICE(NHL Network) have called to check for 3 months no hockey , no discounts, thou will keep my subscription and will be flipping back and forth from NHL Network, NBCSN, and NBC. Will be watching World Juniors as they start the 25th, till NHL Starts! Let’s play Hockey!!! Stay Safe Everyone , Merry Christmas
How is hard to come to an agreement when the players gets paid for a full 82-game season over a shortened 56-game season and no preseason? That isn’t a difficult negotiation. The players are getting away with highway robbery. League owners have to pay full price for a partial product and no gate revenue in near future. No wonder some of the owners are unhappy.
Will NHL TV subscriptions be discounted? If not, I’m taking the year off from subscribing.
Just thankful there will be a season.The NHL did a fantastic job in 2019/2020.Let’s hope things change in the near future so all can enjoy an 82 game schedule.
Teams can decide whether to “toll the contract.” What does that mean?
I believe it means that if a player opts out then the team could extend their contract by a year at the team’s discretion.
what does the schedule look like if there’s a Canadian division but no cross border travel? 56 games within the same division and then a playoff with 4 of those same teams?
Inter-division or Intra-division? Inter-division makes no sense.
It is funny how Ontario is going into lockdown but Toronto and Ottawa can still play hockey..i think its totally backwards…