The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have developed a return-to-play plan that goes from some kind of training camp into a 24-team playoff, leaving seven teams not returning for the 2019-20 season, according to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The final agreement is expected to come when the league and union finalize hub locations where the playoffs will unfold without fans. It remains unknown exactly when play would resume.
The Western Conference’s top four seeds will be based on points percentage — not divisional standing. That would make St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas the top four seeds.