There is a tentative deal in place and here is the fine print:
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have reached an agreement on the 2020-21 season pending respective votes by each side. According to the information provided by several insiders, including Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and Frank Seravalli, here is what seem to be resolved and included in that tentative deal. This is all pending NHL Board of Governors and NHLPA board voting.
Earlier this week, it had been reported that the NHL may be forced to move its Canadian teams down to the U.S. if it can’t come to agreements with provincial health authorities between now and the planned league start date of Jan 13th, 2021. In order to limit travel within the country, thereby getting around Canadian and American border restrictions, this plan requires the approval of health authorities from five different provinces, something that has been difficult to attain. The COVID-19 situations in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia are vastly different and changing seemingly everyday. This has made it extremely difficult for the league to negotiate its protocols. Randip Janda of Sportsnet reported earlier today that the NHL has reached out to the Public Health Agency of Canada to facilitate a meeting with provincial health officers to present their Canadian division plan again. We still await the responses from health officers.
This is all great news! Come on, baby. Puck drop in less than a month!
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