NHL moving toward 24-team playoff format, per report

It appears that the NHL is making progress towards a 24-team playoff format to conclude the 2019-20 season that has been on pause since mid-March.

With every passing day, it looks like we are getting closer to the return of the NHL. The league has been on pause since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the end of the suspension may be in sight. The Athletic‘s Pierre LeBrun reported Sunday that the NHL and NHL Players Association have progressed towards a possible agreement on a 24-team playoff format.

LeBrun added it will be tough to gauge when a definite decision will be made, but the NHL’s Board of Governors is scheduled to meet Monday at 3 p.m., so we may find out more then. A decision on the status of the NHL Draft could be announced soon as well.

More details were outlined on the possible returned by LeBrun on The Athletic. The key part of the potential deal is that when the league returns to play, it will not go directly to the playoffs. There will be some games beforehand, then the 24-team playoff format will begin.

Odds are the next 24 hours will not result in a finished proposal, but it will be important towards moving to a hopeful final solution. Once the league’s Return to Play Committee comes to an agreement, it will be sent to the Players Association, where it will then be voted on.

In regard to the draft, a final decision on that is expected this week, but there is an expectation it will either be pushed back or could not happen at all. The final word on that will come down to commissioner Gary Bettman.

It still remains to be seen how the league would go about bringing players back and getting them prepared to resume the season. The expectation is players who are coming back into the country would have to quarantine for two weeks. Then teams could start to integrate into facilities, then begin a mini training camp.

The format of a 24-team playoff is still something that also has to be figured out. We outlined some of those possibilities here back in March. Details on how that would work should come out soon after an agreement is made.

Obviously, there is still a lot to figure out. But, it is fair to expect some major NHL news throughout this upcoming week.

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