NHL PLANNING HUB CITIES EXHIBITION GAMES

TORONTO, ON -- The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday morning that Phase 3 will begin July 10, pending medical and safety conditions and both sides reach an overall agreement on resuming play.

The League and its players are still working on details associated with the start of training camps, including its length, which might span a few weeks, upon which we’ll know the start date of Phase 4, when games officially get back underway.

Whatever the NHL plans, the NHLPA must agree and sign off, and that includes the two hub cities. As the two sides continue to work together to finalize specifics – and towards an extended Collective Bargaining Agreement – some additional details have come to light.

Two weeks ago, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to me the League intends on having each team play two exhibition games before the start of Phase 4. That plan remains, but those games won’t occur in team markets – they’ll happen in hub cities.

Once teams complete their in-market training camps, they will travel to their assigned hub city, upon which players and staff will be tested and monitored as they enter their bubble away from the public. Teams will continue to practice in their hub cities and play their two exhibitions games. Once those games conclude, Phase 4 will begin and mark the official return of the NHL’s 2019-20 season.

With a July 10 start date for camps, it gives teams and players sufficient time to secure travel and facilities to execute proper preparation for Phase 4.

A source close to the situation disclosed today that the NHL is “a ways away” from selecting hub cities and an additional well-placed source conveyed the list of potential hub cities is being paired down.

Ultimately, the Canadian government controls the destiny of Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver as hub cities. It is believed government officials are considering easing or modifying some quarantine restrictions to allow teams to still train together by expanding their quarantine bubble – currently those traveling into Canada need to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Having one hub city in Canada and another in the United States remains the NHL’s preference (key word), as is having one in the east and one in the west. With Vegas still considered a hub city frontrunner – the NHL views T-Mobile Arena as having the best ice in the league, regardless of the time of year – if Canada eases its restrictions, Toronto could be the choice in the east.

The NHL is taking its time here, and for good reason. Multiple factors come into play, and any spike in COVID-19 cases in any market that pops up this month could affect the League’s decision. The NHL also wants to make sure its players and staff are well occupied away from the ice with access to entertainment options like movies and golf, restaurants, and leisure activities, and each contending market continues to present and discuss its options.

With each day, we are one step closer to the return of NHL action. Most within the game are confident play will resume, but there is still a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is needed and these next few weeks are critical in putting the final pieces together.