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After a news-packed beginning to this week, there’s not a lot to add as we wait for formal vote and ratification of the NHL and NHLPA’s agreement to return to play and extend the CBA...and other items, like what Ilya Sorokin and the Islanders will do.
It’s been a tough year. How about some arena shots as a pickmeup?
From @wcbs880 #Chopper880: Here's your #BelmontParkArena construction update; 07.06.20; #Isles; @NYIslanders; @NHL; @PR_NHL pic.twitter.com/qaZRLJbZJG
— Tom Kaminski (@TomKaminskiWCBS) July 8, 2020
The pro shop has re-opened if you want to shop for some goodies in person. [Isles]
Return to Play
- Lots of nuggets about the NHL plans here, including: Three games per day at the hub cities during the playoffs, a Stanley Cup final beginning on Sept. 20, an entry draft on Oct. 6, and a plan to start the 2020-21 season on Dec. 1 (not January). [ESPN]
- Some important (tentative) dates to keep circled:
#NHL tentative RTP schedule:
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 8, 2020
July 24: Travel to hubs
July 25: Exhibition games
July 30: Qualif. round begins
Aug. 9: First round of playoffs begins
Aug. 23: Second round begins
Sept. 6: Conf Finals begin
Sept. 20: SCF begins
Oct. 2: Last poss. game of SCF
- Craig Custance has more (pending) CBA details on those dates, as well as how qualifying round stats will be kept, a big change in trade conditions going forward and the end of the free agent interview week [The Athletic]:
1. Teams will no longer be allowed to add conditions to trades that change the compensation if the traded player signs a contract extension with the new team. For instance, the Sharks agreed to send a second-round pick to the Senators in 2021 if they re-signed Erik Karlsson, which, of course, they did. Last season, a team like the Dallas Stars might have been more inclined to re-sign Mats Zuccarello if there weren’t conditions attached. This gives the potential free agent player more leverage going into free agency.
- In such unprecedented and difficult times, the NHL labor deal and peace is a most unexpected bit of good news. [Sportsnet]
Elsewhere
- The IIHF is “encouraged” that the NHL plans to return to the Olympics. [ESPN]
- Ranking the NHL’s rinks, from the perspective of the beatwriters who have to slog from venue to venue. [Athletic]
- Longtime Panthers beatwriter, most recently of the Athletic before a pandemic layoff, has launched a new site to cover the team. [Florida Hockey Now]
- Legendary Coyote cap famer Chris Pronger has left the Panthers to, um, focus on a boutique luxury travel company.