7 Things We Know Right Now about Where Canadian Teams Will Play

On Sportsnet Central later on Sunday evening, Elliotte Friedman was interviewed by Eric Thomas and discussed aspects of the official agreement between the NHL and NHLPA about a 56-game season. Friedman also weighed in to share the latest news about where the Canadian teams would play.

In this post, I’m going to list what Friedman shared about what we know.

What We Know #1: There Will Be an All-Canadian Division

The NHL has confirmed that there will be an all-Canadian division; however, so far that confirmation doesn’t affect the reality. And the reality is that no one knows how close the Canadian teams are to actually having approval for playing at home. The approval from the provincial health authorities hasn’t happened yet.

What We Know #2: There’s More than One Plan – There are Some Desires and Some Contingencies

Frideman noted that there were “a lot of balls in the air. He suggested that the NHL is engaging in considering all sorts of contingencies so that if their first choice can’t happen, they league would go all “the way down to www.” All of the league’s pucks are not in the same net.

What We Know #3: A Couple of Provinces Seem to Have Agreed, But There Are Holdouts

Friedman thinks that a couple of provinces remain uncertain about what they’re going to do. One of those provinces is Québec and another is Ontario. Friedman noted that perhaps the province that’s most difficult to agree to the NHL’s plan is British Columbia. In fact, Friedman heard some rumors that British Columbia was the “lone holdout.” He also heard that the provinces are trying to work together as a “united front.” The National Hockey League is trying to work with all of them together to figure out a way to allow hockey but to protect citizens’ health and safety.

Related: Miami Maple Leafs? Why Starting a 2021 NHL Season Is Getting Tougher

What We Know #4: The Canadian Teams Won’t Play in the United States, Even in One Division

Friedman noted that, although last week Chris Johnston reported that the worst-case scenario was that Canadian-based teams might go to play in the United States. However, that doesn’t look to be the case any longer. The NHL is they’re trying to move past this idea.

What We Know #5: Two Provinces (Alberta and Manitoba) Seem to Be Options Right Now

Right now, Friedman suggested, both Alberta and Manitoba – “especially Alberta” – seem to be options. As Friedman suggested, that might be the NHL’s bottom line. As in, “OK, if we have to do this, we’re going to do this.”

What We Know #6: Vancouver Canucks Players Have Been Warned About Not Playing in Vancouver

Friedman believed the Canucks players have “been warned about the possibility that they could be playing in Edmonton to start the year either a road trip or their temporary home base.” Once the puck drops to begin the season, it’s possible that Edmonton might become a hub. In fact, it might be that US teams play on their home rinks, but that the Canadian teams have to play in a hub like Edmonton.

What We Know #7: The Only Team That Can’t Begin Training Camp at Home Is Montreal

Currently, Friedman noted that “the only team right now that can’t start training camp at home is Montreal.” However, the Canadians are hopeful that will happen; however, currently the team doesn’t have approval.

Related: Where Teams May Relocate and Why an NHL All-Canadian Division Still Matters

The Bottom Line Is Right Now There’s No Bottom Line

Things are so up-in-the-air that the NHL isn’t really where things are landing on the Canadian side of the border. There are a number of different options from road trips to playing somewhere in a hub if they have to do it that way.

The NHL is working with provincial governments and, if Plan A doesn’t work, then it’s on to Plan B. We should hear over the next few days.