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NHL Return to Play Protocol and CBA Extension ready for vote

Training Camp begins July 13th!

Colorado Avalanche v Los Angeles Kings
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 9: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on March 9, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL and NHLPA have come to an agreement on Phasee 3 and 4 of the league’s Return to Play Protocol, which outlines training camps and playoffs to finish the season. They have also come to an agreement on a four-year extension to the CBA, meaning no lockout for the next six seasons.

Both of these decisions require approval from the NHLPA Executive Board as well as a full player vote. These should take the rest of the week but the league is tentatively moving forward on the Return to Play as we speak.

The full press release with all 48 pages of the Return to Play Protocol including procedures for health and safety are in the press release below. Most of what is in there can be found in the article posted yesterday.

The NHLPA has yet to vote on the agreement, but they should be doing it soon. Hopefully we have everything figured out by next week when Phase 3 begins.

Without all the technical stuff, here are the important dates:

Early thoughts on next season, players can sign for European and other non-North American teams seven days after the new CBA begins and two days after their team is eliminated from the Playoffs (or were already out), which should happen soon. Expect a fair number of players leave for Europe as they expect their seasons to begin in the Fall and their overall COVID-19 situation is much better in America.

In short, hockey’s back!