Canada

NHL’s plan to return faces possible border restriction hurdle

The NHL is still more than a week away from determining a return-to-play format, a source familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

And what that plan includes could be complicated further should the U.S. and Canada extend border restrictions to non-essential travel into July.

The person, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, spoke after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced border limits will stay in effect through June 21 — the second time they have been extended since March 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am hopeful that today’s announcement will not have a material impact on our return to play discussions and timeline,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email.

Though the NHL has left open the possibility of training camps opening as late as early August, it was unclear what effect further border restrictions will have on a league with seven of its 31 teams based in Canada.

On Tuesday, the Ottawa Sun reported that the Senators had received provincial approval to skate at a local rink — a maximum of five at a time, with physical distancing and other safety measures.

There’s also a question of how travel restrictions will affect players, many of whom have returned to their off-season homes — including about 17 per cent of players currently self-isolating overseas.

In a separate development, the NHLPA’s executive board voted to defer the final payment of players’ regular season salaries through the end of May. Players were owed their final cheques on April 15, before voting to defer those payments for a month.

The decision provides temporary relief to the NHL’s bottom line, opening the possibility of players foregoing some or the entire remainder of their final cheques. The players stand to lose some or all of what they are owed under the collective agreement. Players and owners split hockey-related revenue on a 50/50 basis, with a percentage of players’ salaries placed in an escrow fund. Owners can draw from the fund should their share fall below 50 per cent, which is projected to happen this season.

Owners considered the players’ previous decision to defer payment as a sign of good faith. Daly declined to comment on the latest deferment, saying it’s a decision left entirely to players.

The NHL paused its season on March 12, with commissioner Gary Bettman adamant the league intends to award the Stanley Cup, even it means extending the playoffs into September.

The decision on when and how to resume the season is being left with a committee made up of representatives of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association.

The topics of discussion include whether it’s feasible to conclude all or a portion of the regular season or go directly into the playoffs. The season was postponed with 189 games remaining and teams having played an uneven number of games.

Among the options discussed are an expanded playoff format, featuring as many as 24 teams, and the likelihood of having groups of teams gather and play games in a select number of hub cities around the continent and without fans present.

There is no set deadline before the NHL considers cancelling the season. Games could feasibly be played into October with the 2020-21 season potential opening in December or January.

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New Jersey Devils defenceman Connor Carrick said both sides are attempting to make the best of a difficult situation.

“It’s going to be an interesting solution, and I think you embrace the novelty with it,” Carrick said.

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