Game on, everyone.
After 142 days, the National Hockey League is coming back to the ice.
The NHL and NHL Players' Association formally ratified their return to play agreement on Friday night, along with a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). As part of the CBA extension, the NHL will send its players back to the Olympic Winter Games for the first time since 2014.
But that's for later. The hockey is for now.
Here's NHL commissioner Gary Bettman:
"Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our League,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “I thank NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr and Special Assistant to the Executive Director Mathieu Schneider, the more than 700 NHL Players – particularly those who worked on our Return to Play Committee – and the NHL’s Board of Governors for coming together under extraordinary circumstances for the good of our game. While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19, we know that health and safety are and will continue to be our priorities. We know that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12.”
According to TSN's Frank Seravalli, the players voted 79% in favor of the plan and CBA extension. The qualifying rounds and subsequent first two playoff rounds – which will take place in Toronto (Eastern Conference) and Edmonton (Western Conference), are scheduled to begin on Aug. 1.
The Blue Jackets face the Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-five qualifying round series that begins Aug. 2 in Toronto. The winner of that series moves on to face the top-seeded East seed, which will be determined by a round-robin series featuring the top four seeds in each conference.
Here's more on the safety and security of NHL players, coaches and staff as they prepare to play hockey during the COVID-19 pandemic:
In keeping with the League’s commitment to the health and safety of all participants, each of the 52 Club personnel will live inside a secure “bubble” – the Phase 4 Secure Zone – and will be tested daily for COVID-19 as well as being administered daily temperature checks and symptom screenings. As well, individuals who might have direct or indirect contact with NHL teams will be tested daily. Any person inside the Secure Zone who tests positive will immediately be isolated.
The NHL said it plans to award the Stanley Cup in early October. More key dates are as follows:
- Phase 2 of the NHL Draft Lottery will take place between the Stanley Cup Qualifiers and the start of the First Round on Aug. 10. Phase 2 will assign the first overall pick for the 2020 NHL Draft to one of the eight qualifying round teams that fail to advance.
- The 2020 NHL Draft is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10.
- The 2020-21 NHL season is expected to begin in early December.
