The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association are, according to multiple reports on Wednesday morning, including ESPN, closing in on an agreement for a 52 to 56 game regular season, beginning January 13th.
The plan would include temporary divisional realignment for the 31-team league, including one division made up of all of the Canadian teams in the league, eliminating the travel quandary set by Canada’s closing its U.S. border as COVID-19 cases spike south of the border. The all-Canadian division would be made up of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. A potential plan would need approval by the NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA’s executive board.
Talks between the players and owners have proven difficult, with owners claiming loss of income due to the continuing pandemic, attempting to change a financial agreement with the players reached in July.
ESPN is reporting that the NHL, noting the financial losses due to COVID-19, is considering giving league money to the 31 franchises to assist struggling organizations. The National Basketball Association is expected to offer $30 million dollars to its teams. The number being considered by the NHL is not yet known.
The NHL is at 31 teams for the 2020-2021 season, with that number growing to 32 next summer, as the Seattle Kraken make their debut as the league’s 32nd team, joining a Pacific Division that will include Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Edmonton, and Calgary. Arizona will move to the Central Division to accommodate Seattle’s entry to the league.