- According to Pierre LeBrun, the NHL-NHLPA talks are in progress, and it is expected to have some sort of a resolution in the next seven to 10 days.
- Among some plans regarding the format of the playoffs, there is one that involves 24 teams.
- NHLPA’s Executive Board postponed the decision on the April 15 paycheque.
LeBrun Brings New Info
TSN’s hockey insider, Pierre LeBrun, stated that the NHL-NHLPA Return to Play Committee worked hard over the past few days, trying to find some model that would allow both sides to come back and resume the current campaign safely.
LeBrun also mentioned that both sides have frequent contacts and that he expects some sort of a resolution in the next few days.
“The NHL-NHLPA Return To Play Committee has had constant dialogue, one way or another (email/calls) every day since Saturday, whether in the larger group or smaller group. So there’s a focus to try and get there. The hope is for resolution over the next 7-10 days but no guarantee,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
He also added that the Committee discussed about a playoff format. Some stories appeared that there is a plan which involves a 24-team postseason. Two hub cities would accept 12 teams each and see the entire playoffs played there.
However, that wasn’t the only scenario, as there are several more in the combination.
The Decision on April Paycheques on Hold
The NHLPA Executive Board had a voting today regarding the paycheques for April, and they decided to wait until the end of May before making the final decision. LeBrun shared this news also via his Twitter account.
“The NHLPA’s Executive Board (31 players reps) has voted to further defer a decision on the April 15 paycheque until the end of the month. “
It seems that the players themselves want to see how things develop, what are going to be the solutions on continuing the season. After that happens, they are going to discuss this matter and in accordance with the overall circumstances and decide the future steps.
We see that many states in the USA are slowly relaxing the measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemics and that they tend to find solutions for reopening themselves for sports.
As we see, UFC made several events in Florida and plans to have a few more in the near future. Dana White didn’t reveal the location of the UFC Fight Night 176, hoping that the authorities in Nevada might allow sports events without spectators. It would mean that the fight between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns, which is the main event of the night, could be placed in Las Vegas.
Right now, the situation is heading in a good direction when talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the virus is losing its power. More and more countries have begun to lift the measures and restrictions imposed earlier and are returning to the normal way of life.
We hope to see the same when talking about the NHL.
