The New York Rangers are getting closer to returning to action. The NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association voted on Friday to ratify the Return to Play protocol and collective bargaining agreement. Also, The NHL released its schedule for the qualifying-round matchups in the 24-team playoff following the ratification announcement.
New York Ranger Playoff Dates
Saturday, August 1
Monday, August 3
Tuesday, August 4
Thursday, August 6 (if necessary)
Saturday, August 8 (if necessary)
The times of each game haven’t been officially set, but the league is reportedly planning to begin contests in each hub city at noon, 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. local time.
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The Rangers will call the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto home, which is located just outside the bubble. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the hotels will be “fully locked down.” They will be joined at this location by the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and the Montreal Canadiens. The rest of the Eastern Conference teams will be at Hotel X, which is located on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, where there will be a 40-acre campus-like village for the players.
Highlights of the RTP and CBA
The CBA extension runs through September 2026, and the agreement officially paves the way for the league to proceed with the 24-team playoff tournament.
Players have until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to opt-out of the return to play. They don’t have to provide a reason, and those who opt out won’t be penalized as long as they inform their teams by the deadline.
According to TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli, NHLPA membership voted 502 to 135 in favor of ratifying the full collective bargaining agreement.
Players had to agree to extensive protocols governing camps and the bubble environment around where games are played, requiring them to be separated from their families for up to six weeks this summer. They also had to agree to terms on a revamped collective agreement, which will see them defer 10 percent of next year’s salary while the upper limit of the cap is held firm at $81.5-million for as long as it takes NHL business to return to normal.
While not ideal, it was probably the best that both sides could do under these difficult times. The agreement allows the players to achieve modest gains to the league minimum salary, the amount they can be paid on entry-level contracts, and how much escrow can be deducted from future paychecks. It also allows players to return to the Olympics in 2022Â and 2026,
By guaranteeing labor peace for at least six more seasons, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association has also created a stable environment to try and wait out the difficulties brought on by COVID-19.