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

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I personally support throwing the Canucks out of the league for a season. If you can't win one championship in 50 years, losing your spot in the league for one seems fair to me.

I’d rather see them allocated to a Canadian non-NHL market.

Like Edmonton.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Multiple insiders/reporters have said it is BC

British Columbia, where gloryhole sex is recommended but playing hockey in an empty building is not allowed!

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

British Columbia, where gloryhole sex is recommended but playing hockey in an empty building is not allowed!

BC NDP sucks.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by 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.

As much as the first part makes sense, Friedman (I believe that's who it was) said there are concerns over replay capabilities in non NHL rinks. Doubling up with another NHL city would also cut down on plenty of travel. Move the Canucks to Winnipeg for the year and that eliminates 1000's of miles of travel and hundreds of thousands in travel costs.

[sureLoss]

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Some new key dates: Opt-out deadline is Dec. 24 for non-playoff teams, Dec. 27 for playoff teams. Group II RFAs must be signed by Feb. 11 to play this season (usually Dec. 1). And, players on one-year deals can extend on March 12 (usually Jan. 1).

[sureLoss]

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Fun date for hockey fans to circle: Free Agent Frenzy set for July 28 as per NHL-NHLPA agreement

[sureLoss]

Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
League source says at this point the BC government remains unwilling to allow NHL teams to travel into the province for games. That may change as discussions continue, but remains their position as of now, even with the added safety protocols outlined today by @frank_seravalli

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

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.

This makes perfect sense, but has the potential to create some interesting drama. There are certainly going to be teams harder against the cap than usual this year, and cap space is going to be an even bigger asset than it normally would be due to the expansion draft. Shenanigans may ensue.

[Samonadreau]

^ now the rest of the country gets to see how the BC government likes to be difficult just because they can.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

^ now the rest of the country gets to see how the BC government likes to be difficult just because they can.

I was going to say the exact same thing. Just move the Canucks for this year and don't nagotiate with these jabronis.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
League source says at this point the BC government remains unwilling to allow NHL teams to travel into the province for games. That may change as discussions continue, but remains their position as of now, even with the added safety protocols outlined today by @frank_seravalli

Ladies and Gentlemen: your Charlottetown Canucks!

[Enoch Root]

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.

The flip side is that it is a pretty easy thing to find a solution for. And considering all of the sacrifices that we have all had to endure this year, finding a way to get our favourite pass-time up and running to give people something to look forward to and enjoy, seems to me like a no-brainer positive thing for the government officials to make a small effort on and get done.

Giving them a pass because 'there are bigger issues' is a cop-out for them, IMO.

[lazypucker]

What about trades? Can trades happen during the season? Can a Cdn team trade with a US team?

[Manhattanboy]

The NHL and the union should dig in on this. Plan to move ahead without the Canucks this year if the BC government refuses to wise up.

[getbak]

Saskatoon or Quebec City seem like the most-obvious options. Saskatoon would keep them in the west, but the arena in QC was built to meet modern NHL standards.

I wonder what it would take to make Northlands operational again? It was an NHL arena less than 5 years ago, and unless they've done major de-construction inside, it should still be functional.

[djsFlames]

BC don't be a buzz kill.

[Street Pharmacist]

The strange part is other companies are allowed to bring in, what makes a hockey team different? Size of travelling contingent? If Xerox needed to send a technician from Edmonton to Vancouver it's OK, but not if he's got a hockey stick?

I think it's because they feel it would be unfair after cancelling all junior sports to suddenly let the big boys go ahead. My argument would be that there's a quantitative leap in the protocols that the NHL would use vs the BCHL. But I get that argument at least. The NDP here is extremely "fight for the small guy" and wouldn't want to be seen as sinking all the little hockey leagues only to let the NHL go ahead

[Manhattanboy]

Friends of mine in BC are furious.

[Manhattanboy]

Many on here are too young but BC reminds me of the the NL premier who helped kill the Meech Lake Accord.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I was going to say the exact same thing. Just move the Canucks for this year and don't nagotiate with these jabronis.

Or the Canucks can just stay home, who cares. BC, Quebec of the West.