The NHL and its players agree on a return-to-play plan

Simon-Oliver Lorenz
Tap

Different scenes have been circulating for a few weeks already. According to TSN and SportsNet, both parties have finally agreed on a 56-game schedule starting on or around January 13th.

Seven teams that have not made the final playoffs will start training camp on December 30 or 31, with the remaining 24 teams set to return to work on January 3, a week before. These dates are subject to change, as specified. However, teams do not play exhibition games and deal directly with the season.

The association is holding a telephone conference this Friday evening, during which representatives of 31 teams will be aware of the situation. The governors of the circuit actually meet on the weekend.

In other details leaked so far, TSN reporter Frank Severly posted on Twitter that each team could be counted on a list of 23 people. On the other hand, we will add a flying team of 4 to 6 extra players – the “Taxi Squad”, in English. After pocketing a salary from the American League, they follow the team on their travels, without playing.

This measure is useful to facilitate an emergency recall in case one or more players have to abruptly withdraw. This measure serves as Plan B if American League school clubs do not resume their activities. According to Sevaralli, the collective agreement needs to be amended to include this provision.

We also acknowledge that players or their family members may voluntarily withdraw due to a health condition they may be at risk for when a COVID-19 infection occurs. . In this expectation, it seems that the relevant team can remove the player’s salary from its payroll.

However, not everything has been resolved: Pierre LeBron, a journalist with TSN, recalls that agreements with Canadian provincial governments have not yet been finalized. For example, the Quebec government allowed Montreal Canadians to resume training, but not to play games.

It was revealed Thursday night that the NHL is threatening to send its seven Canadian teams south to the border if they do not reach an agreement with local public health officials soon. In recent days, the possibility of creating a unique “bubble” for all these teams in Edmonton has also begun to be heard. However, Severly wrote that the players should not be surprised with these two scenes.

According to LeBron, a global agreement with governments could be announced by Monday.

The agreement between the players and the owners of the NHL teams a few days ago, follows an agreement on the financial framework to play back. After weeks of disagreement, the media, especially to adhere to the collective agreement, whose extension was signed last summer.

Under this, players will see 10% of their 2020-2021 salary over the next three years, without interest. This measure will be used to bury a portion of the NHL’s revenue loss, which promises to be insignificant as the league prepares to play during the off – season seasons, with the exception of a few markets where local authorities allow the presence. Of supporters.