Dec 8, 2020
NHL, NHLPA eye Jan. 13 start, 10-day camps
The NHL and NHLPA are moving forward with their working agreement from July as they work towards a mid-January start for the 2020-21 season, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Dreger reported Monday night that the two sides are targeting a Jan. 13 start to the season with a 56-game schedule.
TSN.ca Staff
The NHL and NHLPA are moving forward with their working agreement from July as they work towards a mid-January start for the 2020-21 season, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
The focus in discussions related to NHL training camps has been on 10 day camps with no exhibition games, Dreger reports.
Dreger adds that while work remains to be done on the season, the expectation is the NHL Board of Governors will approve the plan. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun points out that re-alignment requires two-thirds approval from the Board of Governors.
“We are moving forward with the process of working through all of the issues that need to be addressed and agreed to, and that are obviously unique to playing a season during a pandemic," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday, confirming the two sides had moved past the financial issues.
Dreger reported Monday night that the two sides are no longer talking about the financial terms of the new collective bargaining agreement and are targeting a Jan. 13 start to the season with a 56-game schedule.
According to Dreger, there will be no more discussions on proposed financial changes to the memorandum of understanding outlining the terms of the CBA. On Sunday, the NHLPA proposed more deferred money, according to Dreger, but didn’t include an increase in escrow percentage at any point.
Both sides targeting Jan. 13 start to season in order to get 56-game sked but even with financials no longer an issue as @DarrenDreger first reported, still some work to be done on protocols, schedule, critical date, etc, plus subject to NHL BOG and NHLPA executive board approval https://t.co/ESSjY94Slt
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 8, 2020
Although financial issues appear to be resolved, LeBrun notes there is still some work to be done on protocols, schedule, critical date, etc.., plus all of the above is subject to NHL board of governors and NHLPA executive board approval.