The NHL and NHLPA ratified an extension of the collective bargaining agreement and return-to-play protocols Friday.
"Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season, and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our league," commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
The CBA extension runs through September 2026, and the agreement officially paves the way for the league to proceed with the 24-team playoff tournament hosted in Toronto and Edmonton this summer. Eastern Conference teams will play in Toronto, and the Western Conference will congregate in Edmonton.
Here's a look at the key dates of the plan:
Date
Event
July 13
Training camps open
July 26
Teams arrive in hub cities
July 28-30
Exhibitions
Aug. 1
Qualifiers begin
Aug. 10*
Phase 2 of draft lottery
Aug. 11
1st round of playoffs
Aug. 25*
2nd round of playoffs
Sept. 8*
Conference finals
Sept. 22*
Stanley Cup Final begins
Oct. 4*
Last possible date for playoffs
Oct. 9-10*
NHL draft
* Tentative date
Under revamped terms of the CBA, players will defer 10% of next year's salary, and the salary cap will remain stagnant at $81.5 million, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Players have until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to opt out of the return to play, Johnston reports. They don't have to provide a reason, and those who opt out won't be penalized as long as they inform their teams by the deadline.
Despite the safety protocols and the guarantee of labor peace, COVID-19 outbreaks could still jeopardize the league's playoff plans. Between June 8 and July 6, 35 NHLers tested positive.
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced it will be reopening its doors to the public next Wednesday.
The historic attraction in downtown Toronto has been closed since March 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic. A 70% reduction in capacity will be implemented and all guests will be required to wear a mask while inside.
Visitors will be permitted to have their picture taken with the Stanley Cup, but will not be allowed to touch the trophy.
The Hall of Fame announced its 2020 class in June. Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, and Doug Wilson were inducted as players, and longtime NHL executive Ken Holland was enshrined in the builder category.
The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16 in Toronto.
Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites will transition into the role of chairman, the team announced Friday.
In Lites' place, president Brad Alberts will add CEO to his title.
As chairman, Lites will serve and provide counsel to Alberts, among other business-related responsibilities, the release states. Alberts will oversee "the entire operations" of the team.
"I have spent the majority of my career here in Dallas," Lites said. "This organization means the world to me and my family. I'm thrilled to remain active in advising the leaders of the Stars, as well as expanding the various business initiatives that the Gaglardi family has outside of the hockey world. I've had the pleasure to both mentor Brad, as well as partner with him, for over two decades. I know he is ready for this challenge."
Lites is in his third stint with the Stars organization (1993-02; 2003-07; 2011-present). He created controversy in December 2018 when Lites said leading scorers Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin were "f------ horseshit." General manager Jim Nill and the NHLPA condemned Lites' comments, with the union calling them "reckless and insulting." Benn responded by saying "I don't play for him. I play for every player in this room."
NHL players know which hotels they'll be assigned to upon arriving in their respective bubble cities, and now the public does, too.
The league released hotel assignments to each team, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on Thursday's "Insider Trading."
The Eastern Conference's top five teams will stay at Hotel X in Toronto, which is located on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, where there will be a 40-acre campus-like village for the players.
Hotel X (Toronto)
Boston Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
The remaining teams in the Eastern Conference will call the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto home, which is located just outside the bubble. McKenzie notes the hotels will be "fully locked down."
Royal York (Toronto)
Carolina Hurricanes
New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs
Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens
In the Western Conference, the top six teams will set up at the JW Marriott in Edmonton, which is connected to Rogers Place, the Oilers' state-of-the-art home.
JW Marriott (Edmonton)
St. Louis Blues
Colorado Avalanche
Vegas Golden Knights
Dallas Stars
Edmonton Oilers
Nashville Predators
The remaining teams in the west will stay at the nearby Sutton Place Hotel, which is about a five-minute walk to Rogers Place.
Sutton Place (Edmonton)
Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild
Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
Players are expected to travel to their hub cities on July 26, with the qualifying round reportedly beginning July 31.
With Olympic participation reportedly included in the NHL and NHLPA's modified collective bargaining agreement, it's time for hockey fans to think about what the tournament may look like. This edition forecasts Team Czech Republic's roster.
The Czech Republic is laden with NHL talent but void of relative star power. The Czechs have struggled on the world stage recently, failing to earn a medal in any major men's competition since capturing a bronze at the 2012 World Championship. That said, they do have an impressive history, including a gold-medal triumph at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a run of three consecutive world titles from 1999-2001.
Raha led the Czechs to a semifinals appearance at the 2019 World Championship and was subsequently labeled as the coach for the 2020 tournament before it was canceled. With no international hockey on the horizon, it's safe to assume he can hold his post behind the bench for Beijing in 2022.
Forwards
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty
LW
C
RW
Jakub Voracek (32)
Tomas Hertl (28)
David Pastrnak (25)
Jakub Vrana (25)
David Krejci (35)
Dominik Kubalik (26)
Ondrej Palat (30)
Radek Faksa (28)
Martin Necas (23)
Filip Chytil (21)
Pavel Zacha (24)
Ondrej Kase (26)
(All ages as of February 2022)
Extra: Filip Zadina (22)
Pastrnak is the leader up front, as the Bruins star is unquestionably the team's most dynamic forward. This season's "Rocket" Richard winner is a legitimate threat to score every time he's on the ice, and you can expect him to log major minutes in a tournament with little margin for error. Alongside Pastrnak are a pair of strong options on the top line in Hertl, who was enjoying another terrific year in 2019-20 before suffering a knee injury, and Voracek, who's made a career out of setting up his teammates.
The Czech Republic's second line is anchored by Krejci, who might not be the most prolific producer in 2022, but he'll still be smart and reliable enough on both ends of the ice to be trusted in a large role. Flanking him are two of the NHL's most efficient goal-scorers this past season. Kubalik ranked first among all regular skaters with 1.7 goals per 60 minutes, while Vrana was fourth at 1.55.
The bottom six is comprised primarily of players that hold checking roles in the NHL. However, the Czechs have two enticing young options in Necas and Chytil that could make major developmental strides by the time Beijing rolls around. If they blossom into legitimate offensive difference-makers, this forward corps will look incredibly well-rounded.
Just missed the cut: Dominik Simon, Michael Frolik, Tomas Nosek
Defense
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
LD
RD
Michal Kempny (31)
Filip Hronek (24)
Radim Simek (29)
Radko Gudas (31)
Libor Hajek (24)
Jan Rutta (31)
Extra: Roman Polak (35)
This squad's main area of concern is its blue line. Comprised of the only seven Czech defenders to suit up in the NHL this past season, this unit doesn't appear fit to shut down the stacked attacking squads boasted by the likes of Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Russia.
Hronek - who posted impressive numbers on a dreadful Red Wings team in 2019-20 - is the most promising piece on the back end. The 22-year-old notched 32 points in 65 games while averaging nearly 24 minutes per night against opponents' top lines. If he continues on his current trajectory, he'll be the anchor of a defensive corps lacking any additional standout players.
Goalies
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
G
David Rittich (29)
Petr Mrazek (30)
Extra: Pavel Francouz (31)
The Czechs don't have a bonafide No. 1 option in goal, but they can carry three serviceable options between the pipes. Rittich gets the nod solely based on the fact that he's a full-time starter. That said, he'll need to post better numbers over the next two years to earn his spot.
Mrazek hasn't been consistent enough over the last five seasons to have the edge, while Francouz - the little-known Avalanche backup - could be the dark horse in this race. The 30-year-old has posted a .923 save percentage through his first 36 NHL appearances, and if he comes close to maintaining that number, the Czech Republic may be forced to hand him the reins.
Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat isn't worried about his teammates' lack of playoff experience as they head into their qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild.
"I think they will be up for it," Horvat told NHL.com's David Satriano. "They know what it takes to win, and they know what playoff hockey is like. I think they are going to be ready for it. They have the game to suit the playoffs."
Starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom has also never suited up in the playoffs, though Horvat is confident they won't have any issues adjusting in their postseason debuts.
"I don't think there's much to be said, I think they just know what needs to be done and our main goal at the end of it," Horvat said.
He added: "Our main goal is to win playoff games and ultimately win the Stanley Cup. The organization deserves it, my teammates deserve it, and obviously the city of Vancouver deserves it so that's what we're going to try and do here."
The seventh-seeded Canucks will take on the 10th-seeded Wild in a best-of-five play-in series, with the winner advancing to the traditional 16-team bracket. Vancouver will be one of 12 teams stationed in Edmonton's hub, with play-in games expected to begin July 31.
The players' association and NHL board of governors are currently voting to ratify the tentative collective bargaining agreement and all return-to-play protocols, with results expected to be announced Friday.
