Game on!
The NHL announced on Friday that the league and player’s association have agreed to a plan to return to the ice starting Aug. 1.
The league plans to resume play in two hubs — Toronto for the Eastern Conference and Edmonton for the Western Conference.
In addition, the whole thing will begin with a qualifying tournament for the Stanley Cup playoffs among 16 teams. When seeding is determined, playoffs should begin in late August.
The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final are all set to take place in Edmonton, while the conference finals are tentatively scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
Better Days start Aug. 1 with the #StanleyCup Qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/jMUGOfHGJm
— NHL (@NHL) July 10, 2020
Officials say the Cup Final is scheduled to begin Sept. 22 and will end no later than Oct. 4.
“Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season, and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our league,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
Under the agreement, teams can open training camps on Monday, July 13, in their home markets. Teams will begin traveling to their respective hub cities in two weeks.
The agreement also includes a four-year extension of the current collective bargaining agreement, which is now set to run through the 2025-26 season.