'Collective' Optimism

Monday's news of the NHL and NHL Players' Association agreement in principle to a four-year extension of the league's collective bargaining agreement means two things: One, hockey fans are now an important step closer to the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two, there will be labor peace for six seasons beyond that through the 2025-26 season.

The collective bargaining agreement or CBA is subject to ratification votes by NHL owners and the player association membership, which are expected to be completed in the next three to five days. The NHLPA vote will include approval of health and safety protocols for Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the NHL's Return to Play plan after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2019-20 regular season in mid-March. Once approvals are accomplished, the league plans to open training camps in NHL cities July 13.

Training camps will last two weeks, as teams then travel July 25 or 26 to NHL hub cities to participate in a 24-team postseason tournament beginning Aug. 1. The top 12 teams in the Eastern Conference standings (determined by points percentage per game) will relocate to Toronto while the Western Conference top dozen move on to Edmonton. Sixteen teams will be in Qualifying Round series (best-of-five games). The top four teams in the standings (regardless of division) in each conference will automatically qualify for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs but square off in a round-robin tournament to both determine playoff seeds No. 1 to No. 4 in each hub city and to get into some form of game shape.

During the Phase 3 training camps, players will be permitted to participate in full team activities on and off the ice. Coaches and hockey operations staffers can interact with players while following health and safety strategies identified in the league's 47-page document related to preventive measures for Phase 3 and Phase 4. There will be expanded COVID-19 testing and elevated hygiene practices.

Phase 4 starts teams will travel to Toronto and Edmonton. The teams (players, coaches, select team personnel totaling no more than 52 per franchise) will be lodged in "Phase 4 Secure Zones," which will include hotels, restaurants, practice facilities and the arena games will be played. Everyone will be tested daily for COVID-19, including league personnel, arena and practice facility staff, vendors and service providers supporting the playoffs.

Phase 3 rosters are limited to 30 skaters but allowing unlimited goalies per team. During Phase 4, rosters will be trimmed to 31 players total, including goaltenders. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia will play in the seeding round-robin. The East's best-of-5 Qualifying Round series feature No. 5 seed Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 Montreal, No. 5 Carolina vs. No. 11 New York Rangers, No. 6 New York Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida and No. 7 Toronto vs. No. 8 Columbus.

Out West, defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas will play in the seeding round-robin while the hometown No. 5 Oilers face No. 12 Chicago in one Qualifying Round series. The other three are No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona, No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota and No. 8 Calgary vs. No. 9 Winnipeg.