Yesterday was quite the news day for the National Hockey League. Along with the NHLPA, they ratified a four-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. As well as, the Return to Play Plan.
You can read the CBA Memorandum of Understanding here.
Don Fehr, the NHLPA Executive Director, made note in the press release from the NHL to recognize the work players put into the Return to Play Plan.
This agreement is a meaningful step forward for the players and owners, and for our game, in a difficult and uncertain time. This would not have happened but for the enormous contributions that the players made throughout, particularly those who served on the Negotiating and Return to Play Committees, as well as those on the Executive Board.
The NHL also released the schedule for the first 10 days of the Stanley Cup qualifying rounds.
Games will be staggered throughout the day starting at Noon ET with the last game of the day starting at 10:30 pm ET.
Noon – Eastern Conference
2 pm – Western Conference
4 pm – Eastern Conference
6:30 pm – Western Conference
8 pm – Eastern Conference
10:30 pm – Western Conference
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be playing in a best of five series starting on Sunday August 2nd.
Game 1: Sunday August 2nd
Game 2: Tuesday August 4th
Game 3: Thursday August 6th
If needed:
Game 4: Friday August 7th
Game 5: Sunday August 9th
Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Per the press release, games from the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers are considered part of the 2020 post season.
For statistical purposes only, all games from the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers (round robin and qualifying rounds) are considered part of the 2020 postseason. Accordingly, all skater/goalie/team statistics accumulated in these games will be included in the 2020 player and team postseason stats. Achievements from these games and series will be included on Records.NHL.com.
Also, teams in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers will be recognized as participating in a postseason series.