The National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players` Association (NHLPA) have reached a tentative agreement to return to play for the 2020-2021 season. The agreement is still subject to ratification by both the NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA membership.
Under the tentative agreement, the regular season will consist of 56 games and is set to begin on January 13th, 2021. The league will be divided into four divisions, with teams only facing opponents within their division throughout the regular season. The playoffs will feature 16 teams and will be held in a traditional seven-game series format.
In addition to the changes to the season format, the NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a number of health and safety protocols to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These protocols include daily COVID-19 testing for all players and staff, strict quarantining measures, and the use of face coverings.
The NHL has also announced that it will not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing scheduling conflicts and concerns over player safety due to the pandemic.
The tentative agreement comes after months of negotiations and uncertainty regarding the NHL`s return to play. The league was forced to suspend play in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Stanley Cup playoffs being held in two “bubble” cities, Edmonton and Toronto, to minimize the risk of infection.
While the NHL`s return to play is still subject to ratification, the tentative agreement is a positive step towards getting hockey back on the ice and providing fans with some much-needed entertainment during these challenging times.