Blues Rumors & News

The Score "All 24 teams participating in the NHL's return-to-play plan will not be permitted to disclose information regarding player injuries or illnesses, the league announcedSaturday.  "Given the unique circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, effective with the start..." July 12

NHL.com "Training camps will begin Monday as part of Phase 3 of the NHL Return to Play Plan. Teams will then travel July 26 to one of two hub cities, where they will begin Phase 4, the resumption of play, with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers starting Aug. 1. The 12 Eastern Confernece teams will play in..." July 11

Pro Hockey Rumors "While the focus for many hockey fans today will be on the return to play protocols and when their individual team will resume the chase for the Stanley Cup, the vote between the NHL and NHLPA also officially introduced a CBA extension. With that extension, that will run through September 15,..." July 11

The Sports Daily "NHL and NBA players are normally enjoying vacation during the summer months, but this particular year has been quite different. The coronavirus has turned the sports world on its head, and now its players are forced to adjust as a result. " July 11

NHL.com "Following a 142-day pause, the National Hockey League will drop the puck with a five-game schedule of Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Saturday, Aug. 1, as the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and NHL ratified a four-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (through..." July 10

The Hockey News "If there’s one underlying theme to the collective bargaining agreement that will ensure labor peace in the NHL for at least the next six seasons, it’s certainty. And when you’re in the throes of a worldwide pandemic that has thrown almost everything you’ve ever known..." July 10

Pro Hockey Talk "If the NHL’s Return to Play plan goes off without a hitch, the Stanley Cup will be awarded this fall in Edmonton. As Edmonton and Toronto will serve as hub cities, only one was going to be selected to host both the conference finals and the Cup Final. Low COVID-19 rates..." July 10

Sportsnet "Following news of a tentative agreement between the NHL and NHLPA on a CBA extension and return to play plan, we’re just awaiting the results of a ratification vote from both the players and Board of Governors. It’s expected both will pass, putting us on track for Phase 3 training..." July 10

Nova Caps Fans "The NHL released their hotel assignments in Edmonton (Western Conference) and Toronto (Eastern Conference) for the teams’ arrival on Sunday, July 26 for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is set to begin on Saturday, August 1. The Washington Capitals will be staying at..." July 10

Pro Hockey Rumors "Bridge contracts have often been back-loaded in the past to ensure a higher starting point for a qualifying offer.  For example, a player making $2.5MM in year one and $3MM in year two would have a qualifying offer of $3MM. That element was used more liberally last summer with..." July 10

Pro Hockey Rumors "Over the past several days, news has been trickling out about some of the new elements of the CBA.  TSN’s Frank Seravalli was the first to report (Twitter link) that there is a big change coming to free agency as the interview period has been removed.  Now, teams won’t..." July 09

Sportsnet "Imagine being told you’re not allowed to have sugar anymore, for some indefinite period. At first you’d miss certain treats. Some food would taste more bland than you’d prefer, but you’d get used to it. In time it would become normal, even if you preferred it..." July 09

Pro Hockey Rumors "All services have been closed to the public at Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital after a COVID-19 outbreak left 20 patients and 15 staff members infected, per Nicole Bergot of the Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, of course, is prepared to be one of the NHL’s hub cities as play..." July 08

Bleacher Report "The NHL has reportedly released its return-to-play schedule, according to TSN reporter Frank Seravalli, with games beginning this month: The adjusted season has also pushed back the 2020 offseason and start of 2020-21 season: The 2019-20 campaign was paused in..." July 08

The Hockey News "As the NHL inches closer to starting the playoffs, there will be a lot made of the fact that players can opt out of playing out this season for any reason. A player can tell his employer that playing this season will get in the way of his golf game and he’ll be able to skip the playoffs..." July 08

Pro Hockey Rumors "NHL players will have three extra days to decide whether or not to play in the 24-team playoff that begins on August 1, per Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now. Anyone opting out will have to do so before Monday night. But don’t expect a whole host of skaters to sit this..." July 08

TSN "Lawyers for the NHL Players’ Association are scheduled to appear by video conference before an Ontario judge Tuesday in an effort to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former union employee who alleges the NHLPA covered up a theft of more than $100,000 in union funds by one of its..." July 08

Sportsnet "When the NHL Draft Lottery (Phase 1) produced a placeholder at the top of the draw, the handwringing began immediately: What if, in this year from outer space, an already-awesome team has a hiccup in the qualifying round, enters Phase 2 of the lottery and winds up with the No. 1..." July 08

NESN "It’s official: The NHL Players’ Association has approved the tentative CBA agreement the union and NHL discussed Monday. The NHLPA made the announcement Tuesday with some added details.   " July 08

The Hockey News "While nothing is 100 percent yet, we’re on the path to see NHL players participate in the Olympics again. This is undoubtedly great news for hockey fans (and the IOC’s wallets), as we will truly get best-on-best hockey in 2022 and 2026. Let’s face it: the 2018 Games in Korea..." July 07

Las Vegas Sun "Grab some snacks and a drink because once postseason hockey begins, there’s going to be a lot of it. The NHL is planning three games a day in each Canadian hub city — Toronto and Edmonton — starting at noon local time, according to a report from TSN’s Bob..." July 07

ESPN "The NHL's 24-team tournament this summer promises to be one of the most unpredictable -- if not fascinating -- postseasons for hockey ever. The paused season due to the coronavirus pandemic provided significant extra time for injured stars to mend, and there..." July 07

Sportsnet "A strange sensation may have washed over you early Monday evening. Call it the promise of labour peace in our time. Unless you are middle-aged, or took a keen interest in labour negotiations before grade school, this isn’t something you’ve experienced courtesy of..." July 07

National Post "The rules are extreme — if not excessive. Handshakes and high-fives are prohibited. The same goes for fist bumps. During games, you can’t re-use towels. After games, you can’t use the spa, sauna or steam room to soak those sore muscles. Want to take the elevator to..." July 07

Pro Hockey Talk "With at least some of the NHL future getting less muddy, it sure looks like the next “Free Agent Frenzy” will take place on or around Nov. 1. Unfortunately, an expected flat $81.5M salary cap could make the NHL “Free Agent Frenzy” more of a..." July 07

TSN "One of the interesting wrinkles of the National Hockey League’s redesigned playoff format to conclude the 2019-20 regular season is the loss of home-ice advantage. The creation of hub cities – reportedly Toronto and Edmonton – is designed to create the..." July 07

Pro Hockey Rumors "With the NHL set to ratify a new extension for the Collective Bargaining Agreement, labor peace will be guaranteed for at least the next six years. That comes as very welcome news for hockey fans that have been waiting to see their favorite players back on the ice for several months...." July 06

Larry Brown Sports "The NHL is the latest North American sports league to set a tentative date for restarting the season. The league announced Monday that it has reached a tentative agreement with the NHLPA on a return to play plan. Training camps will begin on July 13, while games are set to begin on..." July 06

Pro Hockey Rumors "With the NHL’s report today announcing 23 confirmed cases of coronavirus out of the 396 players in camp, data points are emerging that might reveal the NHL’s risk tolerance as it returns to play. Still, we remain in the dark about what it would take to shut the whole thing..." July 06

Sportsnet "It remains to be seen if any player even gets inside the “secure zone” the NHL hopes to create in Edmonton and Toronto this summer. But the consequences for leaving that highly controlled area and re-entering during a season restart are already tentatively set: At least..." July 06

Edmonton Journal "With the new NHL collective bargaining agreement keeping the $81.5 million salary cap team ceiling, general managers and free-agents and their representatives trying to get new deals are all going, “Uh, oh…this is not good.’” As Brian Burke said Friday on..." July 06

The Score "Nine NHL players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past seven days, the league announced Monday. " July 06

The Hockey News "When Ned Colletti began his career in baseball with the Chicago Cubs in media relations and publications in time for the 1982 season, Doug Wilson was in the prime of his career, one of the NHL’s best defensemen with the Chicago Blackhawks. In Wilson’s Norris Trophy-winning 1981-82..." July 06

TSN "The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have finalized a tentative agreement on Phase 3 and 4 protocols to open training camps and resume the 2019-20 season inside secure “bubbles” in Toronto and Edmonton. The two sides continue to hammer out language and details for..." July 06

TSN "The NHL and NHLPA have finalized a tentative agreement on Phases 3 and 4 of the league's Return-To-Play protocols, but are still working on finalizing the details of the collective bargaining agreement memorandum of understanding, according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob..." July 06

Last Word On Hockey "Late Friday evening, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues were forced to cancel their practices. This comes in the face of multiple positive tests according to The Athletic. The club is said to be expected to keep their training facilities closed for the weekend before reopening..." July 05

TSN "TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL is focused on a full 82-game season for 2020-21. LeBrun adds that next season would be expected to start in December or January, but they will try to squeeze it in, which means potential for a Stanley Cup Final extending into next..." July 05

Pro Hockey Rumors "While the 2020-21 season isn’t expected to start until December, possibly even January, the NHL has maintained in the past that it would like to have a full 82-game regular season to bring stability back to fans. Nothing has changed in the minds of the NHL, according to TSN’s..." July 04

The Score "With Olympic participation reportedly included in the NHL and NHLPA's modified collective bargaining agreement, it's time for hockey fans to begin to think about what the tournament may look like. Following a look at Team Canada, our series continues with Team USA..." July 04

TSN "The puck is on the goal line. Now the NHL and NHLPA just need to poke it home. After a marathon week of bargaining, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association are closing in on a tentative memorandum of understanding on an all-encompassing new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement..." July 04

Pro Hockey Rumors "While the NHL isn’t identifying who has tested positive for the coronavirus or which team(s) they play on, it appears that the Blues have been hit by the virus. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reports (subscription required) that multiple players have tested positive and their..." July 04

Sportsnet "As the NHL/NHLPA continue to grind their way through a return-to-play/CBA agreement, terms continue to seep out. Here’s some of what we’re hearing: The updated rules will carry through 2025-26, although there is a provision for a one-year extension if more than $125..." July 03

CBS Sports "The NHL's return to play has hit a bump in the road. The league will delay the start of formal training camps while negotiations between the league and player's union regarding player safety in the restart plan -- as well as CBA details -- continue. Phase 3, which was when Stanley Cup..." July 03

ESPN "The 2020 NHL draft lottery was pure chaos. It wasn't just that the lowly Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators lost out on the No. 1 pick. Everyone must cope with the fact that "Team E" -- a squad that plays in the NHL's..." July 03

Sportsnet "The 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be unlike any other for a number of reasons. The games will be played without fans, in centralized hub cities and will feature a new play-in round. But one other important wrinkle to the proceedings will be the fact that almost every roster should be fully..." July 03

Pro Hockey Rumors "While we’re still waiting for official word on a CBA Memorandum of Understanding and the final Return to Play protocols, we now at least have an idea of when the free agency period will begin.  TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports (Twitter link) that the agreement to extend expiring..." July 03

The Hockey News "The return to NHL Olympic participation and the right for players to opt out of this year’s playoffs are part of a new collective bargaining agreement and return-to-play plan that will go a long way to forging Don Fehr’s legacy with the NHL Players’..." July 02

The Sports Daily "The NHL and NHLPA are closing in on a deal that will allow the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played in August and September, according to reports. The deal will also extend the current CBA, deal with transition details due to COVID-19 and address Olympic participation for NHL players in both..." July 02

The Score "After recent news that Olympic participation is included in the NHL and NHLPA's modified collective bargaining agreement, it's time for hockey fans to begin thinking ahead to what the tournament may look like. The NHL skipped the 2018 games in PyeongChang, but..." July 02

Sportsnaut "Cases of COVID-19 are spiking again in the United States. This has led many in the hockey world to believe that Vegas may lose its place as one of the NHL Hub Cities giving way to both Edmonton and Toronto. However, the real concern for the NHL will be the players themselves..." July 02