NHL Board of Governors call today and also an NHLPA Executive Board call (31 player reps), so matching updates on the state of affairs for each side. But that's really what it is, an update. Still no hard decisions made yet on the 2020-21 season (con't)...
NHL/NHLPA continue to hammer away in daily calls, trying to put together a plan for the '21 season. The 16-player RTP committee has convened nearly every day over the past week, but internally, not with the NHL. The NHL/NHLPA communication remains at the higher levels (con't)...
Both sides as of today still hope for a Jan. 1 puck drop (we'll see), and the Cup awarded by July 15 at the latest (hopefully sooner). Most of the conversations between both sides have focused on 60-plus games. All-Canadian division remains a thing for obvious reasons. (con't)
So, if there's early January puck drop, that means getting this done by the end of the month. As we saw in the spring/summer, these things can drag out, but the hope is that if there's an agreement it's within the next 7-10 days. But we'll see if talks hit a snag or not ($$).
Don Fehr and Gary Bettman will speak again today. The NHL has asked for an additional 16% deferred salaries and adjustments to escrow limits in the last three years of the CBA. Both sides are committed to playing, but this is a big ask and will require much more negotiating.
The NHL still hopes to drop the puck in early January, which is a month away. A league source said this morning the target date hasn't shifted and that talks with the NHLPA continue. But my own two cents, given the Covid numbers, is that season may be further delayed. We'll see.
Development: Sources say #NHL shared draft schedules with #NHLPA on Thursday, one including a 56-game regular season for 2021. Drafts were based on Jan. 1 start date, but sides discussed pushing that back (Jan. 15 or 16?). Told talks were unrelated to recent economic requests.
Replying to @frank_seravalli
Difficult to say definitively ‘progress’ has been made, given the outstanding economic issues and skyrocketing COVID-19 numbers. But to me, this is one of most positive signs yet that there will be a 2021 season. We’ll see where all this goes. Two sides remain in discussion.