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NHL and NHLPA agree on return-to-play plan, but B.C. health plan remains a work in progress
NHL and NHLPA agree on return-to-play plan, but B.C. health plan remains a work in progress
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The Province Hockey
Summary: This is a summary of an article originally published by The Province Hockey. Read the full original article here →
The hoped-for start to a 56-game regular season is Jan. 13, but the COVID-19 situation in either country could force a delay. If everything goes to the NHL’s plan — and as everyone knows, in this pandemic world of ours, any plan is very much written in pencil — professional hockey’s top league will have all its teams back on practice ice on Jan. 3, the first time since COVID-19 forced the pausing of hockey and the world last March 12. Under an agreement reached Friday night between the league and the NHL Players’ Association, Jan. 3 is the day the 24 teams that took part in last summer’s Stanley Cup playoffs and qualifiers, including the Vancouver Canucks, will open training camp. The seven teams whose season came to a sudden stop in March and didn’t qualify for the expanded postseason will hit the ice Dec. 30.
Teams will remain at their usual 23-man rosters, but will be allowed to keep a “taxi” squad of four to six players in their city to ease call-ups from the minors, a situation that would be very problematic for the Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, who all have their minor-league teams based in the United States.
As it stands, the plan is for the seven Canadian teams to play in an all-Canadian division, with the preference being teams playing in their home arenas without fans (at least to start).
The extra players will have to clear waivers and will receive a full American Hockey League salary.
The NHL is negotiating with the Canadian government plus five provinces to allow teams to host games in their own buildings.
Teams will remain at their usual 23-man rosters, but will be allowed to keep a “taxi” squad of four to six players in their city to ease call-ups from the minors, a situation that would be very problematic for the Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, who all have their minor-league teams based in the United States.
As it stands, the plan is for the seven Canadian teams to play in an all-Canadian division, with the preference being teams playing in their home arenas without fans (at least to start).
The extra players will have to clear waivers and will receive a full American Hockey League salary.
The NHL is negotiating with the Canadian government plus five provinces to allow teams to host games in their own buildings.