The NHLPA has voted not to receive their final paycheque. Also, while not unanimous (some top teams not loving format), source tells me NHLPA will approve the 24-team playoff. #NHL
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Report: NHLPA expected to approve 24-team playoff format
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
May 22, 2020, 19:01 EDTUpdated: May 22, 2020, 19:27 EDT
Reports from OilersNation’s Jason Gregor and TSN’s Bob McKenzie say the NHLPA is expected to pass a 24-team playoff format.
While last night’s NHLPA executive committee conference call got a little heated at times, and various individual players still have a wide variety of views on the NHL’s RTP format, the exec committee vote by team is expected to result in NHLPA approval of the NHL plan.
With the vote having started Thursday and carrying into Friday, Gregor noted that some teams aren’t loving the format. It’s clear that’s the case given that McKenzie said an NHLPA conference call “got a little heated at times” on Thursday night. 18/31 votes are needed to pass.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun added that once the NHL has the official answer from the NHLPA, the league has its own process to go through. It’s expected that an official announcement would be given in the coming days.
The Edmonton Oilers NHLPA player representative is Darnell Nurse.
Under the format, the top four teams in each conference would play each other with the other 16 clubs going through a best-of-five play-in round. The league is working through the process of selecting hub cities to play games out of in a central manner.
The proposed format would see the Edmonton Oilers matching up against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs. The winner would play the Dallas Stars.
On Twitter: @zjlaing
Breaking News
- Nugent-Hopkins scores game-winning goal in 1,000th game as Oilers shutout Blues 5-0: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
- Nuge Week: A one-on-one with Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins discussing his 1,000th Game
- Roundtable: What are your favourite memories of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- ‘RNH is the OG’: Oilers fans share their favourite memories of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ first 1,000 games
- GDB 50.0: Oilers back home to face the Blues for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 1000th game (6PM MT, SNW)