Return to Play Committee hoping for a resolution in the next seven to 10 days
Pierre LeBrun: The NHL and NHLPA Return to Play Committee has been communicating daily either on calls or through emails since Saturday. They are hoping to have a resolution in the next seven to 10 days. There is no guarantee though.
Concerns about for a 24-team tournament and 16-team playoff
TSN: The NHL is looking at the idea of a 24-team tournament, getting down to 16-team playoff. Concern is about being fair, and what if a low seed knocks out a top team in a short series.
“Well it’s an important issue, no doubt about that. The NHL knows this. So does the NHL Players’ Association. Perhaps (it’s) more contentious if you’re an NHL general manager and you’re a general manager on a better club. You wouldn’t want equal footing across the 24-team format. So part of what has been a daunting task with the return-to-play committee, the PA and the NHL is trying to determine appropriate value from where a club was sitting in regular season play and then transferring that into the field of 24.”
Audio: Sportsnet Tonight: Could travel requirements limit NHL’s possible return to US locations?
NHLPA delays paycheck decision again
TSN: NHL players still haven’t decided on whether to collect their final paycheck that was originally due on April 15th.
“Well, they voted over the weekend to further defer again to the end of May. And we’re talking about $120 million at play here, overall for all the paycheques. And there is no good answer. Either the players don’t collect this paycheque and decide to start paying on some of the escrow payments that they’re going to owe bigtime over the next year or two.”