Bring Stanley Home!
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) have reached a deal for a 56-game regular season.
The regular season is scheduled to begin Jan. 13 with formal training camps starting 10 days earlier.
“While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Sunday.
Games will take place within realigned divisions, including a division made up of the seven Canadian teams.
The joint statement from the NHL and NHLPA said they determined that the ongoing Canada-U.S. border closure required realignment, adding the players also sought to minimize team travel as much as possible.
Each team in the East, Central and West divisions will play every other team in its division eight times, while each Canadian team will play every other team in its division nine or 10 times.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs would feature 16 teams in the traditional best-of-seven, four-round format and conclude around mid-July.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs, with intradivisional play in the first two rounds. The four teams that advance to the semifinals would be seeded by their regular-season points total.
The season is set to begin on January 13.
Details: https://t.co/7hXC6mEGui
— NHL (@NHL) December 20, 2020
Dryden’s Chris Pronger is leaving the Florida Panthers organization and the NHL entirely.
Pronger was named Senior Advisor to President of Hockey Operations of the Panthers in June of 2017.
The Hall of Fame defenceman is concentrating on his family’s business ‘Well Inspired Travels’, a boutique luxury travel company that caters to elite athletes.
The Panthers and Pronger both issued statements Wednesday.
Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Dale Tallon:
“We want to thank Chris for his invaluable contributions to the Florida Panthers organization. Since joining our hockey operations staff in 2017, Chris approached his role with great passion and provided our team with a fresh and unique perspective. A true professional, champion and proud family man, we wish Chris, Lauren and the Pronger family the very best in their new business endeavour, Well Inspired Travels.”
Statement from Chris Pronger:
“I want to personally thank the Viola family, Doug Cifu, Dale Tallon and all of the staff with the Florida Panthers. I was able to grow as an executive and more importantly as a person in my three years with the hockey club. I wish the Panthers organization nothing but the best in the upcoming playoffs and years to come.”
For more information on the new venture for Chris Pronger and family visit https://www.wellinspiredtravels.com/
Q&A: Chris Pronger explains why he’s leaving the Florida Panthers to build travel company. #stlblues https://t.co/LXce2wZFOs
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 9, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is comfortable with the NHL having a hub city in Canada.
His comments come as the Canada/U.S. border closure has been extended to July 21st.
“Obviously the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and provinces in the jurisdiction. But Canada is open to it as long as it’s OK by the local health authorities.”
Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver are in the running and reports say a decision by the league on the two North American sites may come down next week.
It was reported Monday morning that, as of then, none of the 10 NHL teams in contention to be a hub city for the league have been told they’re out of the running.
The NHL is going to suspend the rest of its season.
Earlier Thursday, the NHL tweeted “Given the uncertainty regarding the next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs are advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today.”
It follows the NBA’s decision to halt their season for the time being.
The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 12, 2020
Dryden’s Chris Pronger says he was surprised to learn his #44 will be retired by the St. Louis Blues next season.
The NHL Hall of Famer played nine seasons with the Blues.
Pronger says it’s an honour to be recognized.
“I had a number of great years here in St. Louis and you like to think that you left a positive mark and you accomplished some big things. Obviously my personal life I did and now having my number retired up there with the Blues greats is very special.”
Pronger was humble when learning about the honour.
“You look around the league. There’s a lot of great players that don’t have their numbers retired. It’s not a forgone conclusion. It’s not something that’s owed to you. It’s upon the organization and how they feel.”
He adds “Nobody owes you anything. You got to go out, whether you’re playing, working, whatever it is, you got to do your best, to the best of your abilities.”
No date has been set for the official ceremony.
Pronger notes one of his biggest accomplishments was becoming only the second player in league history to be named the top Defenceman and League MVP in the same year.
Bobby Orr did it in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
