[News] UPD: NHL/NHLPA approve agreement for 56 gm season. Canadian governments approve too!

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

As much as we want hockey back - it isn't a necessity and if the health authorities don't approve, I won't be slamming them.
Frankly on the long list of things the health authorities need to figure out - this ones way down there.

True, but NHL teams playing within Canada without fans isn't moving the needle on public health concerns, which is what they should be worried about.

[Reggie Dunlop]

If all the Canadian teams end up having to play in a bubble city in the US, why have a "Canadian" Division? The NHL could probably just organize teams into divisions by alphabetical order.

[Vinsta13]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

If all the Canadian teams end up having to play in a bubble city in the US, why have a "Canadian" Division? The NHL could probably just organize teams into divisions by alphabetical order.

I don’t think it would happen. But if they went bubbles how cool would it be seeing flames in a division with a mix of Eastern conference and Western conference teams.

I would love to see a season of rivalries with Washington, Boston etc. Watching star players that the West doesn’t get much exposure too in the East and vice versa would be really cool!

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

If all the Canadian teams end up having to play in a bubble city in the US, why have a "Canadian" Division? The NHL could probably just organize teams into divisions by alphabetical order.

The bubble would be just to get the season started on time (Jan 13) with the anticipation of teams returning, eventually to their home cities. So the Canadian would teams would start in a bubble in ??? USA for 4- 6 weeks while the provinces get their business sorted out and by March 1 COVID numbers have subsided, more and more vaccines have been administered and all protocols are Okayed by all the provinces. Teams could then return to their home cities and travel to other cities within Canada to play.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I have two questions about the tolling thing.

First, suppose the team doesn't want to toll the year - they want the contract over with sooner. I assume they just pay the player as if he's playing. But what are the cap consequences? For example, suppose Lucic opts out and the Flames don't want to toll the contract. Do they carry his whole cap hit despite having to replace him on the roster?

Second question. Suppose the team does toll the year, and the contract is therefore effectively extended for another year, such that one of the later years is in a year that isn't all screwed up by Covid. Isn't this good for players on player-friendly deals they aren't likely to improve on once their current contract is up? Oliver Ekman-Larsson for example.

First, the player won’t be paid either way. He is choosing not to play and it’s up to the team to roll a year or not.

Second question, yes that would be true in that specific circumstance (OEL) but he still loses a year of his career where he could be making that money this year and even if it’s less signing for a year after the contract is done.

He will now be one year older and one year less valuable, especially if it gets into the over 35 contract years.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

The bubble would be just to get the season started on time (Jan 13) with the anticipation of teams returning, eventually to their home cities. So the Canadian would teams would start in a bubble in ??? USA for 4- 6 weeks while the provinces get their business sorted out and by March 1 COVID numbers have subsided, more and more vaccines have been administered and all protocols are Okayed by all the provinces. Teams could then return to their home cities and travel to other cities within Canada to play.

Never thought about it that way, that makes sense. But why not just have the bubble in Edmonton or Toronto depending on which province allows it?

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Never thought about it that way, that makes sense. But why not just have the bubble in Edmonton or Toronto depending on which province allows it?

Because the players won’t play in a bubble for 6 months, I don’t blame them either.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by jg13

Very good chance we see a Flames vs Leafs/Oilers playoff series this year.

not when the Oilers miss the playoffs

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Salt Water Cowboy #10

Awesome! I think an 82 game season is too long. This is a bit short but I’ll take anything at this point

COVID aside, 82 games is too long IMO.

I get a little burnt out as a fan when we get into the last half of March, and really antsy for the real playoffs to start.

This will be just right, and won't be spread out over 7 months.

[djsFlames]

Oh Edmonton will absolutely find a way to miss. It's the Oilers.

And because I have faith that Tippett will again overuse Mike Smith because of their personal relationship. Come to think of it, that hire has paid off in sneaky ways.

[curves2000]

I don't know which provincial health authority may be not interested in loosening the rules but I do think there is a different attitude towards this situation between Canada and the US.

In the US there is a whole host of people who are really ready to go, get back into busy stadiums and have the sports world return to normal. I get it but I also think in the USA they have kind of normalized the situation with regards to the health care system. A lot of people really aren't too worried about field hospitals in hospital parking lots and frozen trucks with body's. There is a massive disconnect.

In Canada although the situation isn't good by any stretch, if and when we get to the point where things unravel, the craving for NHL hockey and the potential of using scarce health care resources on athletes and their team members, the pressure on political players rises quick.

I have mentioned this story before, a while ago I was seeing the Flames Team Dr for an issue. He recommended I have an MRI and see a surgeon, I would hear back in a few days regarding both for appointments. 5+ weeks later and no follow up. I called and of course somebody forgot to fax this and send that off etc. I get it and mistakes happen of course. Would Gio's and Johnny's faxes be missed for weeks??

I mentioned that story to friends and family and instead of people having a laugh, everybody got furious and told me THEIR PERSONAL horror stories with wait times and such for family/friends.

Knowing Bettman, there is no way the NHL hasn't structured a backup plan for a return to play in the USA if the Canadian division goes south and a bubble option in Edmonton is also a non starter. If things go south with the World Jr's, than almost 100% the NHL goes to the US for the season. They are going not because it's a better situation for anybody, it's because they can skirt the rules to their financial advantage

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Does a player need to be placed on waivers to be put on the Taxi squad.
Asking for an unnamed friend - oh let's call him - Alvinton Willington

I would imagine they wouldn't. Isn't the whole point of a taxi squad during these covid times the expectation that there will positives/false positives as the season goes on and teams need that flexibility to move players on or off the main roster? It's a special situation so I'm thinking they would treat moving players to and from the taxi squad as different as sending a player down to the AHL because they are underperforming.

[devo22]

exciting news, not going to lie. There's much more important issues in the world right now, but in an egoistic way I'm glad to have sports as a bit of a distraction.

hope they can figure out the issue with the Canadian teams soon enough.

[Flashpoint]

I wonder if we see playoff Sam Bennett in the regular season now that it’s shortened?

No idea why the govt would oppose this if its all within Canada. There are Americans crossing the border daily claiming to be “essential” for business reasons. That’s not going to stop. NHLers flying on charters and going straight to hotels seems less risky than the gen pop IMO. Regular testing etc.

Vaccine is the only real thing that’ll have an impact at this point with so much community spread.

[sureLoss]

Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
All indications from #NHL travel protocol drafts are that player movement in road cities will be very stringent. Players and staff will be limited to game rink, practice rink, or team hotel. That's it.

No outside facilities, bars, restaurants or shops. All meals in team hotel.


Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Language in protocol continues to change, and will further with input from provincial health authorities.

No guests in hotel rooms. No use of hotel gym. No housekeeping. Assigned seats on buses and planes. In-flight catering eliminated where feasible, etc.

It's all spelled out.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
All indications from #NHL travel protocol drafts are that player movement in road cities will be very stringent. Players and staff will be limited to game rink, practice rink, or team hotel. That's it.

No outside facilities, bars, restaurants or shops. All meals in team hotel.


Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Language in protocol continues to change, and will further with input from provincial health authorities.

No guests in hotel rooms. No use of hotel gym. No housekeeping. Assigned seats on buses and planes. In-flight catering eliminated where feasible, etc.

It's all spelled out.

Which makes it absurd that any province would stand in the way.

I mean you, me, anybody can jump on a plane today and fly anywhere these teams would be going within Canada, and never have to quarantine or self isolate or any other measure.

Somehow though, a group of people under a bubble type existence and following a strict protocol pose some sort of threat to the general public?

Makes zero sense.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I have two questions about the tolling thing.

First, suppose the team doesn't want to toll the year - they want the contract over with sooner. I assume they just pay the player as if he's playing. But what are the cap consequences? For example, suppose Lucic opts out and the Flames don't want to toll the contract. Do they carry his whole cap hit despite having to replace him on the roster?

Second question. Suppose the team does toll the year, and the contract is therefore effectively extended for another year, such that one of the later years is in a year that isn't all screwed up by Covid. Isn't this good for players on player-friendly deals they aren't likely to improve on once their current contract is up? Oliver Ekman-Larsson for example.

Without the final wording it is difficult to say, but from the sounds of it if a player opts out because of Covid aren't getting paid at all this season. If they aren't getting paid, then it would logically make sense that they wouldn't count against the salary cap for the season. It wouldn't be much different then when the Jets suspended Byfuglien without pay while he decided whether he would play in the 19/20 season and failed to report. Byfuglien didn't count against the salary cap while suspended.

It is the teams option whether to toll the contract once a player decides to opt out. The team will most likely decide based on what they think is best for them. Contracts that are likely to be anchors near their end will probably not get tolled.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
No proration of salaries; no exhibition games; non-playoff teams get a few extra days of camp

??

Does that mean that the players get their full salaries for playing 26 games less?

[flambers]

Curious when each team will need to cap compliant.

I assume Jan 4th.

[topfiverecords]

Seems easier and more logical to put the one Canadian team in Saskatoon, Hamilton or Quebec City than to make all 7 find US locations.

Could even double up a Canadian city if they had to, like Canucks also play out of Edmonton.

The mental health lift for Canadians will be thousands of times greater than the risk of a charter airplane of 50 people, isolating at a hotel, playing hockey and then leaving charter.