NHL planned announcement signals return to play inching closer

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TORONTO – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will make an exclusive announcement today at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT regarding the Return to Play Plan for the 2019-20 NHL season.

The announcement comes after the NHLPA Executive Board authorized further negotiations with the NHL over how a 24-team return to play scenario would play out.

“The Executive Board of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) has authorized further negotiations with the NHL on a 24-team return to play format to determine the winner of the 2020 Stanley Cup,” a statement from the NHLPA said on Friday.

The NHLPA had said several details still needed to be negotiated, adding “an agreement on the format would still be subject to the parties reaching agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play.​”

Under the NHL’s initial proposal, the top four seeds — based on points percentage — in the East and the West qualify for the post-season. The next eight teams in each conference will compete in a best-of-five play-in series, with the winners going on to face each conference’s top seeds.

Both the top four in the West and the top four in the East would be given a bye from competing in this play-in tournament but would play games against each other before the playoffs begin.

Not all details of this initially proposed framework were approved Friday night, however.

Watch the announcement on a special presentation of Tim & Sid, which will air on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 590 The Fan and sportsnet.ca beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

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