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There is a lot to take in with the Return to Play information. Here are the key points.
Players will report to training camp on July 13 to get in shape.
They’ll head to the two host cities, Edmonton and Toronto, on July 26.
Each team will play one exhibition game between July 28 and July 30 as a final tune-up.
Best-of-five qualifying series will begin on August 1 between these teams:
(5) Penguins vs. (12) Canadiens
(6) Hurricanes vs. (11) Rangers
(7) Islanders vs. (10) Panthers
(8) Maple Leafs vs. (9) Blue Jackets
(5) Oilers vs. (12) Blackhawks
(6) Predators vs. (11) Coyotes
(5) Penguins vs. (12) Canadiens
(6) Hurricanes vs. (11) Rangers
(7) Islanders vs. (10) Panthers
(8) Maple Leafs vs. (9) Blue Jackets
(5) Oilers vs. (12) Blackhawks
(6) Predators vs. (11) Coyotes
Simultaneously, the top four teams in each conference will compete in a round robin to determine playoff seeding.
That means there will be five or six games staggered throughout the day to start us off!
The qualifying round and round robin are included in what we’re calling the "Stanley Cup Qualifiers"
Teams eliminated in the best-of-five series will participate in Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery, to be held after the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. Those eight teams will each have a 12.5% chance at the first overall selection.
The 16 teams who remain after the Qualifiers will face off in the First Round of the @StanleyCup Playoffs.
Each series from then on is best-of-seven. The final four teams will be in Edmonton for the Conference Finals and #StanleyCup Final. This is where the Cup will ultimately be awarded.
What else? Well, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a extend the CBA through 2025-2026!
And pending an agreement wth the IOC and IIHF, @NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2022 and 2026.
Still with us? Great! See you MONDAY for the start of training camp.
