NHL, NHLPA finalize CBA extension and Return to Play dates

After what felt like an eternity of haggling over the details, the NHL and NHLPA have agreed on basic terms of a CBA extension as well as putting the finishing touches on the plan to Return to Play.

Let’s start there as it is the most immediately relevant information.

Return to Play

The agreement on hub cities took several twists and turns and as the United States continues to struggle with COVID-19, the idea of using an American city as a hub city became untenable.

In the span of a week, we went from Vegas and Vancouver as the likely host cities to landing on Edmonton and Toronto. Sticking with logic on this one, eastern teams will play in Toronto and western teams will head to Edmonton.

As both host cities have teams participating in the Qualifying Round, the Maple Leafs and Oilers will be required to stay inside the designated hotel “bubble” created for the safety of players and team personnel so as to limit any potential home-ice advantage.

Per TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the NHL is set to lose approximately $1.1 billion if they do not finish the season. Should they complete it, they could recoup as much as $450 million in the process.

Important dates have been finalized:

– July 13 training camps open
– July 26 teams travel to hub cities (Avs to Edmonton)
-August 1 the Qualifying Round begins

CBA Extension details

Money is always a major obstacle in these conversations (see: MLB and whatever that was) but the two sides have been relatively amicable throughout as evidenced by their agreement to honor all bonus money due on July 1, which was approximately $300 million spent leaguewide.

With that show of good faith, it put the NHL and the players on the road to what is now a four-year extension of the current CBA through 2026. While details have not been made publicly available due to the need for the Board of Governors and NHLPA to ratify it via voting (BoG needs two-thirds, players simply need a majority in order to pass).

However, some of the proposed details leaked last week (meaning they are still subject to change) include:

-Flat salary cap for the next two offseasons at $81.5M with a potential $1M increase in three years
-Escrow capped at 20% for next year with it lower in each of the next three seasons
-The official NHL calendar of dates is still unannounced but it has been suggested that November 1 will be Free Agency Frenzy Day and the NHL Draft will be held in mid-October
-The return of NHL players to the Olympic stage for the Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022 and Milan 2026, pending negotiations with the International Olympic Committee

The players have 72 hours to vote on the CBA extension. When it does and official details are released, this story will be updated to include them.