NHL: towards a resumption of the season on August 1

The NHL resumption date is getting clearer. According to the Canadian channel TSN, the season, suspended since March 12 due to the Covid-19 epidemic, could resume on August 1. The training camps of the 24 franchises concerned would begin on July 13 and the teams would be called upon to travel on July 26 in the two host cities of the end of the season.

The competition will restart directly with the play-offs, which will be played by twenty-four teams instead of the usual sixteen. They are likely to be played in two Canadian cities, for reasons of cost and health risk (the pandemic is currently more under control in Canada). These would be Toronto for the Eastern Conference and Edmonton for the West.

The champion will be known at the beginning of October

According to TSN, the preliminary round between the teams ranked 5th through 12th in each Conference will run until August 15. The Stanley Cup winner is expected to be named in early October.

But all these aspects remain suspended at the conclusion of the negotiations underway between the League and the players’ union (NHLPA), in particular on the takeover protocol and the extension of the collective agreement. However, these seem to be on the right track.