20 December 2020
{Game|Video game} on. {{Finally|Lastly}. |.} {The NHL and the NHL|The nhl and the nhl} Players Association {formally|officially} {agreed|concurred} Sunday to {conduct|carry out|perform} a coronavirus-delayed and -{shortened|reduced} 56-game season {starting|beginning} Jan. 13, with the {Ducks and Kings|Kings and ducks} to open their {training camps|training school} as early as Dec. 31.
The schedule will be {announced|revealed} in the coming days, {the league and the union|the union and the league} {said|stated} in a joint {statement|declaration}. {As of|Since} Sunday, the {plan|strategy} was to play in {home|house} arenas {wherever|anywhere|any place} possible and according to the {rules|guidelines} and {guidance|assistance} of {local|regional} health {officials|authorities}. It’s {also|likewise} possible {games|video games} {could|might} be {moved to|transferred to|relocated to} neutral {sites|websites}. {Flexibility|Versatility} will be {critical|crucial|vital|important}.
The {Ducks and Kings|Kings and ducks} last played March 11, one day {before|prior to} the NHL suspended its 2019-20 season due to the pandemic. Play resumed Aug. 1 without the Southern California {rivals|competitors} and {five|5} other {teams|groups} that weren’t {among|amongst} the {top|leading} 24 in the standings when play was {halted|stopped}.
“This {has|has actually} been a day we {have|have actually} been {eagerly|excitedly} {waiting for|waiting on|awaiting} {since|because|considering that|given that} March, so needless to {say|state}, we are {excited|thrilled|delighted} about our return,” Ducks {general|basic} {manager|supervisor} Bob Murray {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}. “We are well-prepared, {healthy and {ready|prepared|all set}|{ready|prepared|all set} and healthy} to take {a major|a significant} {step forward|advance} this year. While we will miss our fans and the {atmosphere|environment} at Honda Center, {we know|we understand} they will be {watching|viewing|enjoying|seeing}. We {look forward to|anticipate|eagerly anticipate} seeing our {supporters|advocates|fans} {again|once again} in-person {as soon as|as quickly as} {deemed|considered} safe by health {officials|authorities}.”
The Kings {also|likewise} {said|stated} they would play without fans {until|up until|till} cleared by {local|regional} health {officials|authorities}.
“The L.A. Kings are {excited|thrilled|delighted} about today’s {official|main} {announcement|statement} and {thrilled to|enjoyed} drop the puck in January,” {team|group} president Luc Robitaille {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}. “Our {organization|company} will do whatever possible to {ensure|guarantee|make sure} a safe, healthy environment for our {players|gamers} and our {staff|personnel} {during|throughout} this {unique|distinct|special} season. {{Unfortunately|Sadly|Regrettably}, we will not {be able to|have the ability to} host fans at Staples Center at this time.”
| We will not be able to host fans at Staples Center at this time.”
} Each of the league’s 31 {teams|groups} will play in {four|4} {temporary|short-term|momentary|short-lived} re-aligned {divisions|departments} for the upcoming season. The {Ducks and Kings|Kings and ducks} will be {placed|put|positioned} in the West {Division|Department}, {along with|together with|in addition to} the Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights.
The Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks will {depart|leave} the Pacific {Division|Department} for this season, {joining with|accompanying} the other {four|4} Canadian {teams|groups} to form the North {Division|Department} {because|since|due to the fact that} of the {difficulty|problem|trouble} of crossing the United States-Canada border and the {concerns|issues} of provincial health {officials|authorities}.
{Teams|Groups} will play {only|just} within their {divisions|departments} in order to {cut down on|reduce|minimize} travel and {increase|boost} {safety|security}. {Exhibition|Exhibit} {games|video games} will not be {contested|objected to}. The league will {revert|go back} to {a standard|a basic} 16-team playoff {tournament|competition}, after {shifting|moving} to 24 {teams|groups} in its {Return to|Go back to} Play format last {summer|summertime|summer season}.
“The National Hockey League {looks forward to|anticipates|eagerly anticipates} the opening of our 2020-21 season, {especially|particularly|specifically} {since|because|considering that|given that} the {Return to|Go back to} Play in 2019-20 was so {successful|effective} in crowning a Stanley Cup {champion|champ},” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}.
“While we are {well aware|aware} of the {challenges|difficulties|obstacles} ahead, as {was the case|held true} last spring and {summer|summertime|summer season}, we are continuing to {prioritize|focus on} the {health and safety|health and wellness} of our {participants|individuals} and the {communities|neighborhoods} in which we {live and play|play and live}. And, as {was the case|held true} last spring and {summer|summertime|summer season}, I thank the NHLPA, {particularly|especially} executive director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our league back on the ice.”
The league and its union {hammered out|worked out} a tentative {agreement|contract|arrangement} Friday, with the {players|gamers} {giving|providing|offering} it their {blessing|true blessing}. The league’s board of {governors|guvs} voted to {approve|authorize} it Sunday, {granting|giving|approving} the {seven|7} {teams|groups} that didn’t make the playoffs last {summer|summertime|summer season} {several|a number of|numerous} {extra|additional} days to {prepare for|get ready for} 2020-21.
Training camps {begin|start} for the other 24 {games|video games} Jan. 3.
The {regular|routine} season will conclude May 8, with the playoffs to follow, ending in mid-July.
{Additional|Extra} dates were not {released|launched} by the NHL, {but|however} according to Canada’s Sportsnet, the trade {deadline|due date} will be April 12, the {expansion|growth} draft for the league’s 32nd {team|group}, the Seattle Kraken, will be July 21, the entry draft will be July 23-24 and {free|totally free|complimentary} {agency|company|firm} will {start|begin} July 28.
{Further|Additional|More} {details|information} are {expected|anticipated} to be {announced|revealed} in the next {few|couple of} days.
In addition to the West and the North, the NHL will {group|organize} Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, {New York|New York City} Islanders, {New York|New York City} Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington in the East and Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Nashville and Tampa Bay in the Central.
Each of the {eight|8} {teams|groups} in the U.S.-based {divisions|departments} will play their divisional {rivals|competitors} {eight|8} times to reach 56 {games|video games}. The {seven|7} Canadian {teams|groups} will play their {foes|opponents|enemies} {nine|9} or 10 times for {a total|an overall} of 56 {games|video games}. The {top|leading} {four|4} {teams|groups} in each {division|department} will advance to the playoffs.
“The {players|gamers} are {pleased|delighted|happy} to {have|have actually} {finalized|completed|settled} {agreements|contracts|arrangements} for the upcoming season, which will be {unique|distinct|special} {but|however} {also|likewise} {very|extremely|really} {exciting|interesting|amazing} for the {fans and {players|gamers}|{players|gamers} and fans} alike,” Fehr, the {player|gamer}’s union executive director, {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}. “{During|Throughout} these {troubled|distressed|struggling} times, we hope that NHL {games|video games} will {provide|offer|supply} fans with some much-needed {entertainment|home entertainment} as the {players|gamers} {return to|go back to} the ice.”
Source: ocregister.com