The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association have been working closely on a return-to-play plan, and it looks as if they have finally reached an agreement. The NHLPA executive committee announced on Tuesday night that they had approved the plan, and now there is just one final step that remains.
The executive committee is made up of one player rep from each team, but the league still needs approval from the rest of the players. A league-wide vote is expected to take place later this week, and the players are expected to approve the plan as well.
Along with agreeing to the return-to-play plan, the league and the NHLPA also announced a four-year extension to the current collective bargaining agreement. The CBA will now run through the 2026 season, giving the league additional years of labor peace.
The approved plan highlights when the league will move into Phase 3 and Phase 4 in an effort to finish the 2019-20 season. Phase 3 is set to begin on July 13, assuming that the players give a vote of approval.
Phase 3 will mark the beginning of team training camps that are set to take place in their home cities around the country. Individual training camps began on June 8, but coaches were not allowed to work with their players.
Phase 4 is set to begin on Aug. 1, and that is when the expanded playoffs will begin. The league can adjust this date if needed, but they are currently aiming for that date.
The league has also selected Edmonton and Toronto as the “hub” cities that will host the remainder of the season. The Eastern Conference will play in Edmonton, and the Western Conference will play in Toronto.
Long List of Health and Safety Protocols
The National Hockey League has not released its return-to-play plan to the public, but there is expected to be several health and safety protocols put in place. Some of the top issues have been leaked to the media, and the league will be placing a huge priority on the health and safety of players and team staff.
One of the biggest parts of the return-to-play plan deals with players that choose to opt out rather than travel with their team to complete the season. Any player that opts out will not be punished, and they will not have to give up any salary.
Players will have to notify the teams of their decision within three days after the full player vote takes place. The league has also outlined the process that will take place for players that test positive once they are at the “hub” cities, but the full details of that plan have not yet been revealed.
The league announced over the weekend that 23 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since individual training camps began on June 8. The NHL is also aware of 12 other players that have contracted the disease, but these players were not yet at the camps.
