Report: Expect some surprises from Gary Bettman's 4:30 ET announcement today

Earlier today the NHL announced that it will conduct a formal press conference regarding the league's 24 team playoff format later today at 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT.

Check it out:

The announcement will be covered by NBCSN, NHL Network, Spoortsnet and NHL.com.

It's expected that commissioner Gary Bettman will officially unveil the NHL's plans regarding the resumption of the 2019-20 season and its expanded 24 team playoff format. TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger expects that Bettman will also go into detail concerning the NHL Draft and the Draft Lottery, as well. Dreger also predicts some surprises, as well.

Check out Dreger's comments from today's Leafs Lunch radio broadcast on TSN:

"We will know, even though we've speculated openly about the 24 team format, that will be confirmed this afternoon. The play in series, the round robin portion... that's going to be confirmed and unveiled. Now, could there also be a surprise or two? Maybe. Are they ready to announce the hub cities? It depends on how much work got done last night and whether or not the commissioner is ready to make his announcement this afternoon."

Stay tuned, hockey fans. We're about to FINALLY get some answers the the questions that we've all been asking for weeks now.