peaches5 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 https://www.nhl.com/news/canada-clears-three-cities-to-be-nhl-hub-in-return-to-play-plan/c-317188672 Quote Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver each will be eligible to be a hub city as part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday. "We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that are asking for it," Trudeau said. "Obviously, the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and the provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is OK by the local health authorities." The NHL had said a Canadian city would not be chosen if players were required to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine currently in effect for people entering Canada. Trudeau said the border with the United States will remain closed to nonessential travel through at least July 21, Reuters reported, but that the closure does not affect NHL players, some of whom have already been traveling to rejoin their teams. The NHL, which paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, announced 10 cities are in the running to be one of two hub cities -- one for the 12 participating Eastern Conference teams and one for the 12 Western Conference teams. Under the 24-team Return to Play Plan, the Stanley Cup Qualifiers will have the top four teams in each conference, based on regular-season points percentage, play a round-robin to determine seeding. The other eight teams in each conference will play four best-of-5 series, with the winners playing the four round-robin teams in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "The National Hockey League appreciates the significant effort that the government of Canada put into reviewing this matter and satisfying itself that the League's protocol and processes for Return to Play were thorough, well thought out and, most importantly, focused on the health and safety of all concerned," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement to the Toronto Star. "The League will continue to work with the respective provincial governments and health authorities in the coming days as we consider our hub cities decision." In addition to Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto, the NHL is considering seven United States cities -- Chicago, Dallas, Columbus, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Pittsburgh -- to be hubs. Phase 3 of the Return to Play Plan, which is the start of training camp, will begin July 10 provided medical and safety conditions allow and the NHL and the NHL Players' Association reach an agreement on resuming play. The NHL has not announced when the qualifiers will begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure_Pavel Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Vancouver would make a lot of sense, but will probably be in Chicago or Boston knowing Bettman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Squamfan Posted June 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 17, 2020 Bettman wants to americanize the game more. Vegas just had 342 cases in one day and the league want to put players there? This should be i canada where we have control over this stuff 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post King Heffy Posted June 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 17, 2020 18 minutes ago, Squamfan said: Bettman wants to americanize the game more. Vegas just had 342 cases in one day and the league want to put players there? This should be i canada where we have control over this stuff I'm shocked the NHLPA agreed to play in a country with 3rd world standards for health care. 1 2 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanuck Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Sadly, I think we all know politics will play as big a factor in the final decision as health/safety/common sense. You think the center of the hockeyverse (TO) is gonna be left out of this even if fans aren't going to be there....not a chance. You think the NHL BOG aren't going to include at least 1 (if not more) of their 'flagship' NHL cities (Chi/LV)....not a chance. This won't be about health/safety, this will be a highly political decision, let's face it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Fanuck said: Sadly, I think we all know politics will play as big a factor in the final decision as health/safety/common sense. You think the center of the hockeyverse (TO) is gonna be left out of this even if fans aren't going to be there....not a chance. You think the NHL BOG aren't going to include at least 1 (if not more) of their 'flagship' NHL cities (Chi/LV)....not a chance. This won't be about health/safety, this will be a highly political decision, let's face it. TO will demand a venue as the Eastern time zone arena. Vegas will be on Pacific time for the late games. I cannot see 2 teams in the West. Edmonton doesn't work as all air traffic is routed thru Calgary unless the teams charter. Can you imagine the ice when it is 100 F outside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slegr Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 4 hours ago, Boudrias said: TO will demand a venue as the Eastern time zone arena. Vegas will be on Pacific time for the late games. I cannot see 2 teams in the West. Edmonton doesn't work as all air traffic is routed thru Calgary unless the teams charter. Can you imagine the ice when it is 100 F outside? Exactly this. Sadly, the moment the NHL chose Vegas as a hub, both Edmonton and Vancouver fell out of the running as a Canadian hub. The default will be Toronto because of the time zone difference, even though it’s far more dangerous in terms of COVID, and despite the fact teams could easily start afternoon times in Vancouver to cater to an Eastern audience wanting to watch hockey at 7 pm. Hell, we’ve been doing that for years when the Leafs come to town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinky-Winky Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 1000 bucks is on toronto , cause NHL loves toronto so much edm/van have no hope in hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 31 minutes ago, x00x said: 1000 bucks is on toronto , cause NHL loves toronto so much edm/van have no hope in hell. With the high amount of Ontario born players in the NHL it’s really not too shocking. Lots of families there already. I don’t care where they choose really. It’s no benefit to play in your home city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) 21 hours ago, Squamfan said: Bettman wants to americanize the game more. Vegas just had 342 cases in one day and the league want to put players there? This should be i canada where we have control over this stuff The league actually wants a hub in Canada. The exchange rate is favourable and they are already losing so much money. Players are going to vote on the whole return to play package - including the 2 hub cities. The NHLPA is involved in the selection process. Vegas can probably be more easily sealed off than other locations. The league is trying to create an airtight bubble where players won't be allowed outside of that bubble. Edited June 18, 2020 by mll 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 8 hours ago, DeNiro said: With the high amount of Ontario born players in the NHL it’s really not too shocking. Lots of families there already. I don’t care where they choose really. It’s no benefit to play in your home city. Buffalo is pretty isolated, maybe there. Fans want playoff hockey, badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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