The NHL will work in a five-day "bye week" next season as part of the negotiation with the NHL Players' Association to sign off on the All-Star format changes announced this week, according to sources.
In an important gain for the players, which they got in return for accepting the three-on-three All-Star Game format, the league next season will build in a five-day bye week for each team into their schedule between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 next season, sources told ESPN.com.
Players will be completely off, no practices, during this break. There will be practice permitted after 4 p.