Stanley Cup playoffs 2020: Everything we know about the NHL’s potential resumption
The rumour mill continues to churn, but a person thing seems to be a lot more and a lot more definite: a 2020 Stanley Cup winner will be crowned.
When it’s going to take place is however in flux because of these kinds of factors as place, coronavirus tests, the U.S.-Canada border closures, restricted entry from Europe and obligatory 14-day quarantines to any individual entering Canada.
Irrespective of these variables, it sounds as if the NHL and the NHL Players’ Affiliation, through their joint Return to Engage in Committee, are inching nearer to summertime hockey. The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont wrote (subscription required) that the Bruins may well be capable to get back again on the ice, albeit in little teams, by June one below Phase 2 of the league’s reopening protocols, with the playoffs commencing July one.
Here’s every little thing we know so significantly about the NHL’s probable return to the ice:
How lots of groups would return?
According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on May well 20, it seems to be as if the league, the gamers and the Return to Engage in Committee are zeroing in on a 24-workforce playoff.
John Carlson, speaking on @LunchTalkNBCSN, not a huge enthusiast of the noted 24-workforce playoff structure: “24 groups sounds like a good deal of groups to me if I’m being trustworthy.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) May well 21, 2020
The major 24 groups dependent on factors percentage — groups experienced not all performed the exact variety of video games when the year was paused on March 12 — would be seeded one-12 in just about every conference. 7 groups would not resume play and would then enter the draft lottery.
Japanese Convention
SEED | Crew | Report | PTS. PCT. |
---|---|---|---|
one | Boston Bruins | 44-14-12 | .714 |
2 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 43-21-six | .657 |
three | Washington Capitals | 41-20-eight | .652 |
4 | Philadelphia Flyers | 41-21-7 | .645 |
five | Pittsburgh Penguins | 40-23-six | .623 |
six | Carolina Hurricanes | 38-25-five | .596 |
7 | New York Islanders | 35-23-ten | .588 |
eight | Toronto Maple Leafs | 36-25-9 | .579 |
9 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 33-33-fifteen | .579 |
ten | Florida Panthers | 35-26-eight | .565 |
eleven | New York Rangers | 37-28-five | .564 |
12 | Montreal Canadiens | 31-31-9 | .five hundred |
Western Convention
SEED | Crew | Report | PTS. PCT. |
---|---|---|---|
one | St. Louis Blues | 42-19-ten | .662 |
2 | Colorado Avalanche | 42-20-eight | .657 |
three | Vegas Golden Knights | 39-24-eight | .606 |
4 | Dallas Stars | 37-24-eight | .594 |
five | Edmonton Oilers | 37-25-9 | .585 |
six | Nashville Predators | 35-26-eight | .565 |
7 | Vancouver Canucks | 36-27-six | .565 |
eight | Calgary Flames | 36-27-7 | .564 |
9 | Winnipeg Jets | 37-28-six | .563 |
ten | Minnesota Wild | 35-27-7 | .558 |
eleven | Arizona Coyotes | 33-29-eight | .529 |
12 | Chicago Blackhawks | 32-30-eight | .514 |
Teams that would not return
Crew | Report | PTS. PCT. |
---|---|---|
Buffalo Sabres | 30-31-eight | .493 |
New Jersey Devils | 28-29-12 | .493 |
Anaheim Ducks | 29-33-9 | .472 |
Los Angeles Kings | 29-35-six | .457 |
San Jose Sharks | 29-36-five | .450 |
Ottawa Senators | 25-34-12 | .437 |
Detroit Pink Wings | 17-forty nine-five | .275 |
How would the playoffs do the job?
Brackets! Who does not enjoy a bracket?
In the proposed structure, there would an NCAA-type bracket with no any reseeding.
According to Friedman, the major 4 seeds in just about every conference would receive byes and the “play-in series” would be a ideal-of-5 structure.
Japanese Convention opening-spherical series
MATCHUP |
---|
(five) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (12) Montreal Canadiens |
(six) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (eleven) New York Rangers |
(7) New York Islanders vs. (ten) Florida Panthers |
(eight) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (9) Columbus Blue Jackets |
Western Convention opening-spherical series
MATCHUP |
---|
(five) Edmonton Oilers vs. (12) Chicago Blackhawks |
(six) Nashville Predators vs. (eleven) Arizona Coyotes |
(7) Vancouver Canucks vs. (ten) Minnesota Wild |
(eight) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets |
When these series are made the decision and the Stanley Cup playoffs are down to the regular 16 groups, the 4 groups that obtained byes would then enter the bracket for a best-of-7 series.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston noted Thursday that the 4 major groups could play in a mini-spherical-robin tournament of their very own to identify remaining seeding.
If the seeding remains the exact for these 4 groups, then this is how the Spherical of 16 would shake out — and, certainly, that could necessarily mean a Maple Leafs-Bruins “very first-spherical matchup.”
Japanese Convention second-spherical series
MATCHUP |
---|
(one) Boston Bruins vs. winner of Maple Leafs-Blue Jackets |
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. winner of Islanders-Panthers |
(three) Washington Capitals vs. winner of Hurricanes-Rangers |
(4) Philadelphia Flyers vs. winner of Penguins-Canadiens |
Western Convention second-spherical series
MATCHUP |
---|
(one) St. Louis Blues vs. winner of Flames-Jets |
(2) Colorado Avalanche vs. winner of Canucks-Wild |
(three) Vegas Golden Knights vs. winner of Predators-Coyotes |
(4) Dallas Stars vs. winner of Oilers-Blackhawks |
Wherever will the video games be held?
“Hub cities” is the magic phrase in athletics suitable now and the NHL seems to be subsequent that path. With the the greater part of NHL cities possibly a COVID-19 hotspot or below a ban on community gatherings through the summertime, it is becoming a lot more evident this is the route the league requirements to just take.
According to experiences, the NHL has obtained bids from many teams including Columbus, Las Vegas, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver. In the “hub town” gamers would be quarantined to lower the chance of an infection.
TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted Thursday that the Oilers’ hometown is rolling out the purple carpet for the NHL — supplying up every little thing from golf courses to a colder, a lot more hockey-centric weather.
Curious what NHL gamers think about this? Edmonton is rolling out an amazing “lifestyle” presentation in its Hub town quest. Secured golf course. Amazing temps. Out of doors significant screens for flicks/other video games. Some entertaining things prepared. More tonight in Insider Trading.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May well 21, 2020
Will followers be capable to show up at?
Most likely not. The league has seemed into it but the complications are huge.
The NHL and groups have carried out social distancing designs for people in seats…most arenas, dependent on people being six feet apart in just about every route…would only be capable to host 2000 to 2500 followers at a game. A little bit of a non-starter.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) May well 20, 2020