Edmonton and Toronto set to be NHL hub cities

According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, barring any last-minute complications, the two NHL hub cities will be Edmonton and Toronto.

Barring any last-minute complications, and we have seen some of those (Vancouver and Las Vegas), the two NHL Hub cities will be Edmonton and Toronto. 🇨🇦

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020

Long night of negotiations/hard work between NHL/NHLPA appears to have resulted in agreement on most issues on Phase 3/4 RTP, CBA extension, transition rules. Still a couple of items to finalize today. NOTHING, of course, is actually done until both sides ratify a tentative deal.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020

Nothing carved in stone just yet, but if there are no hiccups in finalizing the tentative agreement, NHLPA membership could be voting on RTP/CBA/transition/critical dates by Friday or Saturday.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020

McKenzie notes that negotiations between the NHL and the NHLPA appear to have resulted in agreement on most issues on Phase 3/4 return to play, CBA extension and transition with a couple of items left to finalize today.

If there are no hiccups in finalizing the tentative agreement, NHLPA membership could be voting on return to play/CBA/transition/critical dates by Friday or Saturday.  

To McKenzie's understanding, players such as defenceman Alexander Romanov of the Montreal Canadiens, forward Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and goaltender Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, will not be eligible for return to play in 2019-20. All three players played last year in the KHL.

With the usual qualifier of nothing is certain until the agreement is ratified — stamp that on every one of my tweets this week — it’s my understanding recently signed players Romanov (MTL), Kaprizov (MIN), Sorokin (NYI) will not be eligible for 2019-20 RTP.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020

According to TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli, the NHL and the PA agreed on an interim extension on all expiring players contracts, as they would've expired at midnight. Contracts are extended pending completion of a new CBA and agreement on Phase 3 and 4. Part of the agreement is any player can choose to opt-out of return to play.

Last night, NHL and NHLPA agreed on interim extension on all expiring player contracts. They would have expired at midnight. Contracts are extended pending completion of new CBA and agreement on Phase 3 & 4.

Part of agreement: any player can choose to opt-out of return to play.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2020

It is expected that players with contracts structured to receive signing bonuses will receive them as scheduled on July 1.