A huge financial obstacle to the NHL playing a 2020-21 season has seemingly been avoided.
Other hurdles remain with the COVID-19 pandemic still causing economic and health and safety hardships. But TSN reported on Tuesday that the league and the NHL Players’ Association have agreed to operate under the financial framework of the collective bargaining agreement ratified by both sides in July, rather than the owners pushing for further salary deferrals and increased escrow charges from the players.
The league is reportedly targeting Jan. 13 as the start date for a truncated, 56-game regular season with the 31 teams realigned into four divisions to limit travel, with teams only playing divisional opponents.