The NHL has officially approved a 24-team playoff format for its return to play, with each conference playing its games in a single hub city, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday.
Though there is no official date for a return, Bettman said the league will immediately proceed with the playoffs when teams take the ice again, meaning the 2019-20 regular season is officially over.
There are 10 hub cities currently under consideration:
Chicago
Columbus
Dallas
Edmonton
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh
Toronto
Vancouver
Seeding will be determined by conference standings based on points percentage - a calculation dividing accrued points by maximum possible points based on games played.
The top four teams in each conference will receive byes to the first round of the playoffs, but they will play against each other to determine seeding. These games will be played with regular-season overtime and shootout rules, with ties in the final standings broken by regular-season points percentage.
The remaining eight teams in each conference will play best-of-five qualifying series to determine which four clubs advance to the first round. The matchups will be based on conference standings by points percentage (fifth versus 12th; sixth versus 11th; seventh versus 10th; eighth versus ninth) and will feature continuous 5-on-5 overtime when necessary.
The return-to-play committee is still discussing whether first- and second-round matchups will be based on seeding or follow a bracket. It must also determine whether the first two rounds following the play-in will be best-of-five or best-of-seven series.
The conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final will be best-of-seven series.
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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will make a formal announcement Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. ET regarding the league's 2019-20 return-to-play plan.
It will air live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, as well as NBCSN and NHL Network in the United States.
Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.
Two days after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said professional sports teams in his state can begin opening up training camps, his New Jersey counterpart is following suit.
"Teams in New Jersey may return to training and even competition - if their leagues choose to move in that direction," Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday. "We have been in constant discussions with teams about necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, and personnel."
Murphy's decision would impact the NFL's New York Giants and Jets and MLS' Red Bulls, all of whom are based in New Jersey. It may affect the NHL's Devils, as well, but they're unlikely to be included in the league's 24-team playoff plan.
The vast majority of sports leagues in North America suspended play in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL's 2020 season isn't scheduled to begin until September, although organized team activities typically begin in May.
Cuomo said Sunday that New York-based teams can open camps while adhering to the appropriate health protocols.
A debate swirled around the first overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft: Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires or Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers? Ten years later, there's still a case to be made for either player.
Using the knowledge we have now, let's redraft the entire first round of a deep 2010 selection:
1. Edmonton Oilers
Original pick: LW Taylor Hall New pick: C Tyler Seguin
This was a difficult choice. Hall is the better playmaker and has reached greater heights than Seguin, winning the Hart Trophy in 2017-18. Seguin is the superior goal-scorer, however, and has been more consistent year to year. Hall has a narrow lead in career points per game: 0.90 to 0.86. But since Seguin has been more durable, his point total is higher (635 to 563). Though Hall has a slight advantage in the underlying numbers, Seguin's ability to play center gives him the edge in overall value. There's no wrong answer for the Oilers here.
2. Boston Bruins
Original pick: C Tyler Seguin New pick: LW Taylor Hall
With Seguin off the board, Hall at No. 2 is a no-brainer for the Bruins, who gained this pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel trade.
Neither Seguin nor Hall lasted very long with the team that drafted him. Boston dealt Seguin to the Dallas Stars in 2013 for a package built around Loui Eriksson, and the Oilers traded Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson in 2016. The general manager responsible for both deals? Peter Chiarelli. Perhaps things turn out differently if Seguin goes No. 1.
3. Florida Panthers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Original pick: D Erik Gudbranson New pick: RW Mark Stone
The Panthers could have gone in many directions with the No. 3 selection, but they whiffed on Gudbranson; despite playing over NHL 500 games, he has never lived up to his draft hype. Stone, selected by the Ottawa Senators with the 178th pick, would've been nowhere near the top of Florida's board, but he's evolved into the third-best player of this draft. He's arguably the best defensive forward in hockey and was on pace for his second straight 70-point season when the league halted play.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Original pick: C Ryan Johansen New pick: RW Vladimir Tarasenko
Johansen was a very solid pick considering how the rest of the top 10 played out, and he ended up netting the Blue Jackets a franchise cornerstone when they sent him to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Seth Jones. But Tarasenko has emerged as the best pure goal-scorer of this draft, and he can't be ignored here by a franchise that's often lacked firepower up front.
5. New York Islanders
Original pick: RW Nino Niederreiter New pick: C Evgeny Kuznetsov
Niederreiter played just 64 games with the Islanders before they flipped him to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick. He's carved out a pretty solid career with the Wild and the Carolina Hurricanes, but he's left us wanting more at times. Enter Kuznetsov, a dynamic playmaker who already has three 70-point seasons under his belt.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
Original pick: RW Brett Connolly New pick: D John Klingberg
Steve Yzerman doesn't have many draft misses on his record, but his first pick as general manager of the Lightning didn't quite pan out. Connolly came with some risk after injuries limited him to just 16 games in his draft year. He was never able to live up to his draft status with the Bolts, though he has developed into a decent middle-six forward with the Washington Capitals and the Panthers. Klingberg, who went 131st to Dallas, gives Tampa a right-handed option to pair with fellow Swede and '09 draftee Victor Hedman.
7. Carolina Hurricanes
Rick Stewart / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Original pick: LW Jeff Skinner New pick: LW Jeff Skinner
There's a case to be made that there are better players than Skinner available here. Recency bias doesn't help - he was on pace for his worst season as a pro before the hiatus - but he does rank second in this draft class with 258 goals and trails only Seguin and Hall in career points. Choosing Skinner also paid immediate and long-term dividends for the Hurricanes: He jumped straight to the NHL after the draft and won the Calder Trophy, and only Eric Staal has scored more goals in a Carolina uniform. The Canes would surely make this pick over and over again.
8. Atlanta Thrashers
Original pick: C Alexander Burmistrov New pick: C Ryan Johansen
The last first-round pick the Thrashers made before becoming the Jets did not pan out, which is fitting since poor drafting ultimately helped force the franchise out of Atlanta. Johansen has endured a down 2019-20 season, but he's still an above-average No. 2 center.
9. Minnesota Wild
Original pick: RW Mikael Granlund New pick: RW Brendan Gallagher
Gallagher is not only one of the league's most effective pests, but he's also an exceptional possession player with annual 30-goal potential. He had 41 goals and 81 points with the WHL's Vancouver Giants in his draft year, but he still fell to the fifth round - likely because of his small stature. We don't height-shame in a redraft, though, so Gallagher lands with the Wild.
10. New York Rangers
Original pick: D Dylan McIlrath New pick: D Cam Fowler
McIlrath had bust written all over him. The 6-foot-5 enforcer had 169 penalty minutes but just 24 points in 65 WHL contests during his draft year; he mustered five points in 66 career NHL games. In a redraft, the Rangers opt for a new-age defenseman in Fowler. Nobody from this draft class has logged more ice time than the Anaheim Ducks' minute-crunching blue-liner, who excels in all facets of the game.
11. Dallas Stars
Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / Getty
Original pick: G Jack Campbell New pick: G Frederik Andersen
Campbell was supposed to be Marty Turco's heir apparent with the Stars, but his development took longer than expected. He's since morphed into one of the league's more capable backups. Ironically, the man he now backs up in Toronto is the new selection here. Andersen fell to the Canes in the seventh round out of Denmark. He didn't sign with Carolina, though, and Anaheim grabbed him in the third round two years later. He's easily the best goalie in this draft.
12. Anaheim Ducks
Original pick: D Cam Fowler New pick: D Justin Faulk
With Fowler off the board, the Ducks take with the next-best defenseman available. Faulk, selected by the Hurricanes in Round 2, was having the worst offensive season of his career before the hiatus halted his debut campaign with the St. Louis Blues, but almost any team in the league would welcome him to its top four.
13. Arizona Coyotes
Original pick: D Brandon Gormley New pick: LW Jaden Schwartz
Ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the sixth-best North American skater in this draft, Gormley was considered a steal at 13th overall. He played just 58 career NHL games, though, making him the Coyotes' biggest draft bust ever. Schwartz ranks eighth in the 2010 class with 364 career points.
14. St. Louis Blues
Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / Getty
Original pick: LW Jaden Schwartz New pick: RW Mikael Granlund
The Blues narrowly miss a chance to redraft Schwartz, but there are still plenty of capable players on the board. None with the upside of Granlund, though; his 69-point season in 2016-17 and 67-point effort the following campaign mark the most productive two-year stretch of any player in this class besides Seguin, Hall, Stone, Tarasenko, and Kuznetsov. Granlund has had a rough 2019-20 with the Predators, but he's more than capable of bouncing back.
15. Los Angeles Kings
Original pick: D Derek Forbort New pick: RW Tyler Toffoli
The Kings waited until the 47th pick to scoop Toffoli in 2010, but there's no chance he makes it that far this time. The winger played a key role in L.A.'s Stanley Cup win in 2014, tallying seven goals and seven assists in 26 playoff games. He's definitely worthy of the No. 15 selection here.
16. St. Louis Blues
Original pick: RW Vladimir Tarasenko New pick: C Brock Nelson
Nelson has been one of this draft's most consistent producers, tallying at least 19 goals in six straight seasons since 2014-15. He was in the midst of a career year with 26 goals and 54 points in 68 games when the season came to a halt. Also a reliable defensive player, Nelson fits in nicely with the Blues.
17. Colorado Avalanche
Original pick: C Joey Hishon New pick: C Kevin Hayes
Hishon is the Avalanche's biggest draft bust of all time. In a do-over, Colorado scoops the 6-foot-5 Hayes, who's become one of the league's most reliable two-way centers. The Avs could select one of several top-six wingers available here, but a towering center like Hayes is more valuable.
18. Nashville Predators
Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty
Original pick: LW Austin Watson New pick: LW Jason Zucker
Predators fans are familiar with Zucker, who spent parts of nine seasons with the division-rival Wild before Minnesota traded him to the Penguins this season. The winger represents a massive upgrade over Watson, who's a bottom-six forward at best.
19. Florida Panthers
Original pick: C Nick Bjugstad New pick: RW Nino Niederreiter
Bjugstad was the best of Florida's three first-round picks in this draft, but that says more about the Panthers' drafting than it does about the class. Though Bjugstad was a solid selection, Niederreiter is the best player on the board at this spot. The Swiss forward was having a down year when play came to a halt, but he's just one season removed from a 53-point output.
20. Pittsburgh Penguins
Original pick: RW Beau Bennett New pick: RW Bryan Rust
Bennett didn't amount to much in the NHL, but Rust - selected by the Penguins in the third round of this draft - has become a valuable piece in Pittsburgh. After failing to record 20 goals or 40 points in any season before 2019-20, Rust broke out in his age-27 campaign, registering 27 goals and 56 points in 55 games before the stoppage.
21. Detroit Red Wings
Original pick: C Riley Sheahan New pick: C Charlie Coyle
Sheahan is a run-of-the-mill, fourth-line pivot, but Coyle has enough offensive upside and versatility to serve as a third-line center or second-line right-winger for the Red Wings.
22. Montreal Canadiens
Original pick: D Jarred Tinordi New pick: LW Zach Hyman
The Canadiens lost heart and energy when Gallagher went off the board at No. 9, but they regain some of both with Hyman. What Hyman lacks in skill, he makes up for in will and determination. A highly responsible defensive player and a strong forechecker, he matched his career high of 21 goals in just 51 games before this season's pause.
23. Buffalo Sabres
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
Original pick: D Mark Pysyk New pick: G Philipp Grubauer
The Sabres haven't had consistent goaltending since Ryan Miller's departure. Grubauer owns a .920 save percentage in 174 career games.
24. Chicago Blackhawks
Original pick: C Kevin Hayes New pick: D Radko Gudas
Gudas may be best suited as a fifth or sixth defenseman, but he could still be of service to the Blackhawks. Despite his "tough guy" label, the Czech blue-liner has posted some pretty solid possession numbers over the course of his NHL career.
25. Florida Panthers
Original pick: LW Quinton Howden New pick: C Nick Bjugstad
Although taken with a different selection in this redraft, Bjugstad remains a Panthers pick. The 6-foot-6 forward had some strong years with the Cats before they traded him to the Penguins, racking up 24 goals in 2014-15 and 49 points in 2017-18. With this pick, Florida's overhaul is complete. Instead of Gudbranson, Bjugstad, and Howden, the team winds up with Stone, Niederreiter, and Bjugstad. A massive upgrade, to say the least.
26. Washington Capitals
Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / Getty
Original pick: C Evgeny Kuznetsov New pick: RW Brett Connolly
Kuznetsov is off the board, but the Capitals nab a familiar face in Connolly, who spent three years in Washington before leaving for Florida in free agency last summer. Connolly has proven he can be a reliable offensive producer in a limited role.
27. Arizona Coyotes
Original pick: G Mark Visentin New pick: RW Joonas Donskoi
The Coyotes' offense has been far from prolific this past decade, so a depth scoring option like Donskoi doesn't hurt. With 16 goals and 33 points in 65 games in 2019-20, the Finn was on pace for a career season.
28. San Jose Sharks
Original pick: C Charlie Coyle New pick: G Petr Mrazek
With Detroit taking Coyle, who eventually helped the Sharks net Brent Burns from the Wild, San Jose general manager Doug Wilson selects Mrazek to create competition between the pipes - never a bad thing.
29. Anaheim Ducks
Original pick: RW Emerson Etem New pick: C Calle Jarnkrok
Jarnkrok is a Swiss Army knife. He can kill penalties, play all three forward positions, and serve in an offensive or shutdown role. He was on pace to set career highs in goals, assists, and points before the pause.
30. New York Islanders
Original pick: C Brock Nelson New pick: LW Micheal Ferland
Ferland has dealt with concussion issues and struggled to produce in 14 games this season. When healthy, though, he's a rugged winger capable of complimenting high-skill players and pitching in 20 goals.
It's been more than six months since Jim Montgomery was fired as head coach of the Dallas Stars for unprofessional conduct, and the 50-year-old says he hopes to return to the NHL one day.
"I'm hopeful for an opportunity," he told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I don't control that. Right now I'm just focused on myself and my family."
Montgomery checked himself into rehab for alcohol addiction less than a month after his firing. The Stars had reportedly warned him about his public drinking episodes, and he wasn't fired for one single incident, but it's still unknown what exactly led to his dismissal.
He said he deserved to be let go and was thankful for his firing because it served as a wake-up call. He's now been sober for five-and-a-half months.
"My rock bottom helps me. And that's why I'm grateful to the Stars. Because I have my health, I have my family, and I haven't lost any close friends," he said.
Montgomery believes that if he's able to land another job, his sobriety will make him a better coach than he was before, offering life on the road as an example.
"Unfortunately, there were nights where I spent that time doing the wrong things," he said. "That's going to be the time to do the right things now. That's going to just make me a better coach, let alone a much better person."
Across parts of two seasons, Montgomery led the Stars to a 61-43-10 record and a first-round playoff series win. Prior to his tenure in Dallas, he coached at the University of Denver, where he won a national championship in 2017.
Minnesota Wild netminder Devan Dubnyk says that while talks are moving in the right direction, the NHL and NHLPA still have a lot of work to do in establishing an appropriate plan for returning to play.
Players voted last week in favor of a 24-team playoff format in the event the season can continue this summer. The NHL is expected to announce exactly how this expanded format will work as early as Tuesday.
"But that does not mean hockey's back," said Dubnyk, who represents the Wild on the NHLPA's 31-player executive board, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "We still have a long way to go."
He continued: "We voted strictly on the format. In other words, 'If we are to come back, this is how it's going to be played.' But we have not even touched on logistics or cities or travel or testing or how the economics will work or what this quarantine bubble (the players are) supposed to live in will be like or any of that stuff yet."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last week the league is examining eight or nine potential locations that could serve as hub cities to host games. Requirements for hub cities include a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases, sufficient hotel space for players and their families, suitable playing and practice facilities, and adequate testing areas.
But Dubnyk said many crucial questions remain.
"How long are guys OK with being away for? When we are in this city, are we locked in our hotel room?" he said. "Going from the hotel room to the rink and back only, are guys OK with just doing that? Can our families come with us, or if there's a family emergency and we leave the bubble (to go back into society), can we return to the bubble or are we done?
"What's the food situation? Like, can we only eat in our hotel rooms? How often are we tested? Who pays for that? What's the damage economically to the sport?
"All of these things - and there's so many variables - need to be talked about, and we've got to start getting a grasp on it now so that it doesn't just hit us in the face all of a sudden."
The NHL is looking to begin Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan in early June. At that point, players would be permitted to work out at team facilities in groups of no more than six.
