The NHL and the NHL Players Association have agreed in principle to a memorandum of understanding for a four-year extension of the NHL / NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, through the 2025-26 season, and the protocols for Phases 3 and NHL 4 Return to play Plan with the intention of resuming games on August 1, the League and union announced Monday.
The opening of training camps in the local markets of the teams, which is the start of Phase 3, is scheduled for July 13. The teams will travel on July 26 to one of the two central cities, where they will begin Phase 4, the resumption of the game. , with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers starting August 1. The central cities have not been announced.
The CBA extension and agreement on protocols for Phases 3 and 4 are subject to ratification by the NHL Board of Governors and NHLPA membership. The NHLPA is expected to vote among the players for the next 3-5 days.
The current CBA, ratified in January 2013, was due to expire on September 15, 2022. With this extension, it would expire on September 15, 2026.
The expanded agreement will allow the planning of an international calendar and events that include the NHL All-Star Game, NHL Winter Classic and NHL Stadium Series.
The NHL and NHLPA rejected their option to reopen this agreement in September 2019, a move that would have led to its expiration on September 15, 2020. Instead, the parties decided to continue discussions on an extension that began during the off-season of 2019.
Negotiations continued after the NHL halted the season on March 12 due to coronavirus-related concerns and have been part of the NHL Back-to-Play Plan determination process, which was announced on May 26 and will include 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup.
The game will resume with the qualifiers, 16 teams playing eight top-five series and a round-robin among the top four teams in percentage of points in each conference to determine the qualification for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Phased Return to Sport Protocol: Phase 3 The | Phase 4
The teams were allowed to reopen their facilities on June 8 for voluntary on-ice and off-ice training in Phase 2 of the Return to Play Plan. The training groups were initially restricted to six players and limited staff, but were later expanded to a maximum of 12 players.
For Phase 3, players will be able to participate in full team activities on and off the ice. Additionally, coaches, general managers, and hockey operations personnel will be allowed to have direct interactions with players and perform typical training camp activities while following preventive measures, including improved testing for COVID-19 and diligent hygiene practices designed to prevent the spread of the virus. .
For Phase 4, the 24 teams will travel to the two central cities, one for the 12 teams in the Eastern Conference and the other for the 12 teams in the Western Conference.
The teams will be housed in the Phase 4 Safe Zones, which will include hotels, restaurants, practice facilities and the arena where exhibition, qualifying and postseason games will be played. Every person within the safe zone, including players, coaches, NHL and team personnel, arena and practice facility personnel, and vendors and service providers will be screened daily for COVID-19 and They will be tested for symptoms and temperature controls.
Some of the key points in the Phase 3 protocols include: the rosters are limited to 30 skaters but allow an unlimited number of goalkeepers per team; participation is limited to players who are eligible for the playoffs; and COVID-19 tests are required for players, team personnel, and other personnel who will be near the players (ice and building maintenance, security, etc.) 48 hours before returning to the team premises and every other day after that.
Phase 4 protocols include: rosters are limited to 31 players (including goalkeepers); A maximum of 52 individuals per team (including owners, players, coaches, executives, and staff) are allowed within the secure zone; and daily tests, symptom controls and temperature tests for each person.
In the Eastern Conference Qualifiers, the Boston Bruins (44-14-12, .714 percentage points), Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-6, .657), Washington Capitals (41-20-8, .652) and Philadelphia The midfielders (41-21-7, .645) will play in the round-robin.
The best four series of 5 in the East are the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-23-6, .623) against the Montreal Canadiens (31-31-9, .500); the Carolina Hurricanes (38-25-5, .596) against the New York Rangers (37-28-5, .564); the New York Islanders (35-23-10, .588) against the Florida Panthers (35-26-8, .565); and the Toronto Maple Leafs (36-25-9, .579) against the Columbus Blue Jackets (33-22-15, .579).
In the Western Conference Qualifiers, defending champion Stanley Cup, St. Louis Blues (42-19-10, .662), Colorado Avalanche (42-20-8, .657), Vegas Golden Knights (39- 24-8 ,. 606) and Dallas Stars (37-24-8, .594) will play in the round-robin.
The top four series of 5 in the West are the Edmonton Oilers (37-25-9, .585) against the Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-8, .514); the Nashville Predators (35-26-8, .565) against the Arizona Coyotes (33-29-8, .529); the Vancouver Canucks (36-27-6, .565) against the Minnesota Wild (35-27-7, .558); and the Calgary flames (36-27-7, .564) against the Winnipeg jets (37-28-6, .563).
The losing teams in the playoffs will have a chance to pick No. 1 in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery.
The teams that advance from the playoffs will remain in the two central cities for the first two rounds of the playoffs. The four teams advancing beyond the second round will meet in a central city to be identified for the conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final.
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