NHL announces 24-team return in July or later


Reuters | Updated: 27-05-2020 04:00 IST | Created: 27-05-2020 04:00 IST
NHL announces 24-team return in July or later

The NHL will end its current hiatus with 24 teams resuming play in two hub cities as soon as late July, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced in a video briefing on Tuesday. Bettman laid out a general framework of the NHL's plan, though many dates, locations and formats have yet to be finalized as the league takes a wait-and-see approach amid the coronavirus pandemic. Several points are certain, however.

The regular season has essentially been deemed complete, and the top 12 teams from each conference -- determined by points percentage when play was suspended on March 12 -- will either advance directly to the 16-team playoffs or to a play-in competition. Each conference will be placed in a yet-to-be-determined hub city, with all competitions played in the two hub cities. Bettman said, "Although we are anxious to get back on the ice, we will not do anything until we are assured by medical professionals and the relevant government authorities that it is safe and prudent to do so."

The top four teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff spots, and they will play a single round-robin competition to determine seeding. Meanwhile, teams ranked fifth through 12th in each conference will face off in a best-of-five series for the final four spots in each conference's playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, that would mean the Boston Bruins (ranked first), Tampa Bay Lightning (second), Washington Capitals (third) and Philadelphia Flyers (fourth) will receive playoff spots, with round-robin play to determine seeding. The next eight East teams will play in best-of-five series, with the matchups as follows:

No. 5 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 12 Montreal Canadiens No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 11 New York Rangers

No. 7 New York Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida Panthers No. 8 Toronto Blue Jackets vs. No. 9 Columbus Blue Jackets

In the West, the St. Louis Blues (first), Colorado Avalanche (second), Vegas Golden Knights (third) and Dallas Stars (fourth) have locked in playoff spots, with round-robin play to determine seeding. The next eight West teams will play best-of-five series, with these matchups: No. 5 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 12 Chicago Blackhawks

No. 6 Nashville Predators vs. No. 11 Arizona Coyotes No. 7 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 10 Minnesota Wild

No. 8 Calgary Flames vs. No. 9 Winnipeg Jets In the round robins, regular-season overtime rules will be used, meaning teams will earn two points for a win and one for an overtime/shootout loss. Any ties following round-robin play will be broken by regular-season record, rather than any results (including head-to-head results) from the round robin.

The best-of-five qualifying series will be played with standard playoff overtime rules. Once the seeds are set and the field has been trimmed to 16 teams, the playoffs will proceed mostly as normal, but with some potential changes.

The playoffs could have teams reseeded after each round (with the highest remaining seed playing the lowest remaining seed) or they could play out using a bracket format. Bettman told NBCSN's Mike Tirico that the players' preference will decide which format is used, adding that the players prefer reseeding but have yet to make a firm decision. Additionally, the first two rounds of the 16-team playoffs could be best-of-five series instead of best-of-seven, with a decision to be made later. The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final will remain best-of-seven.

As to when or where action will begin, the league is remaining flexible. Clubs are expected to return to home facilities for voluntary, small-group training in early June, but training camps cannot begin until at least July 1. With at least a few weeks of training camp expected, that would put the first games in late July at the earliest. Bettman said the goal is to leave room for a full season in 2020-21. The hub cities have also yet to be determined, although there are 10 finalists, including three in Canada: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver.

"Things are evolving rapidly, and when we decide on locations, we want it to be on the best available information at the time that we need to make that determination," Bettman said. Each hub city will have secure arenas, practice facilities, hotels and local transportation for players, coaches and essential staffs. Teams will be limited to a staff of just 50 members in each hub city, and fewer will be permitted in event areas. Each hub city will have a comprehensive system of coronavirus testing set up before any play resumes.

Meanwhile, the league's bottom seven teams -- the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils -- will not return to play. They will be placed in the draft lottery, which also will include the eight teams that are eliminated during the best-of-five qualifying round for the playoffs. The lottery will feature two phases, with the first phase taking place June 26, before the qualifying round. If the top three picks are all awarded to bottom-seven teams, the second phase of the lottery won't take place, and all remaining teams will be seeded in reverse order of the regular-season standings. The eight teams that lose in the qualifying round will have equal lottery odds.

The league's format for the return to play and the lottery was a collaboration of NHL executives, NHL Players' Association members and five players: Ottawa Senators defenseman Ron Hainsey, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares and Philadelphia Flyers right winger James van Riemsdyk. Bettman said that the goal was to create the most fair opportunity for all teams who could have plausibly reached the postseason had the regular season not been suspended.

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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