All that seemingly remains before 24 teams report to either Toronto or Edmonton for the resumption of the NHL season is ratification votes by both the league’s board of governors and the NHL Players’ Association.
That and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid any major outbreaks that could scuttle the NHL’s return-to-play plans.
Multiple reports on Wednesday, with lead reporting by TSN, indicated the sides had finalized almost all the details in both the return-to-play format and a Collective Bargaining Agreement extension, with ratification voting hopefully being concluded by this weekend.
With coronavirus cases on the rise across most of the United States, including in Nevada, Edmonton and Toronto reportedly will be selected as the hub cities where 12 teams from each conference will quarantine.