NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2020

by | Dec 2, 2020 | News, NHL | 39 comments

The standoff continues between the league and the players as speculation persists over what the 2020-21 season will look like. Details and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports of speculation of the NHL owners canceling season if they decide they can’t go in 2020-21. The NHLPA could challenge that move in federal court as an illegal lockout but Dreger said force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances preventing the fulfillment of a contract; in this case, the collective bargaining agreement) would be applied by the owners because of the pandemic. He also said the league believes the spirit of the existing agreement provides them with cancellation protection. The owners also wouldn’t have to pay the players. However, Dreger points out neither side wants to cancel the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Player agent Allan Walsh took to Twitter yesterday disputing the force majeure idea. He claims if the owners cancel the season because the players won’t give another $300 million in concessions that it would be considered a lockout, “which is expressly prohibited by CBA article 7.1 (b).” In Walsh’s opinion, that would leave the owners at risk of facing billions of dollars in potential damages if the PA took them to court.

Walsh accused the league of soft-pedaling force majeure to the media. Maybe the owners are trying to frighten the players into making more concessions. Perhaps it’s being done to lay the groundwork against any potential media/fan backlash over a potential cancellation.

With reports claiming the NHL and the PA remain determined to stage a season, this could be just posturing by the league. We’ll find out for sure in a couple of months. There might not be a season at all if there’s no puck drop by mid-February.

Pierre LeBrun reports the PA has stuck to its guns that it hasn’t agreed to anything beyond the terms of the memorandum of understanding and the CBA extension. That could change but for now, they believe the league should stick to the terms of the agreement.

LeBrun adds the PA’s return-to-play committee has held regular conference calls but there’s some frustration on their part over a perceived lack of urgency on the league’s part.

Frank Seravalli reports the preference for both sides is opening the season in all 31 NHL arenas for revenue purposes as well as allowing players to spend more time with their families. The league recognizes it will have to be flexible with the schedule and locations because of the rising COVID-19 cases throughout North America, which could result in potential neutral-site games. Hybrid bubbles are also a backup option but not a preferred one.

LeBrun said the temporary realignment of divisions, including a Canadian division, remains locked in. However, a firm decision hasn’t been reached yet over what the three American divisions would look like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think most of those issues will be quickly sorted out once the standoff between the NHL and NHLPA over the league’s request for increased escrow and salary deferral rates is resolved. The framework for those decisions appears to already be in place.

FOX SPORTS’ Andy Strickland reports some NHL players are delaying returns to their respective NHL cities. He believes we’re destined for a 48-game schedule hopefully beginning in late January or early February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s pretty much the consensus among NHL pundits and most fans.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: The Red Wings loaned minor-league goaltender Calvin Pickard to the Vienna Capitals in Austria. He’s the 10th player the Wings have loaned overseas and could be a sign the league’s proposed Jan. 1 start date is increasingly unlikely.

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers have 20 players loaned to European clubs, including Jesse Puljujarvi and Tyler Benson.

TSN: The ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears announced they’ve agreed to terms with free-agent goaltender Garret Sparks for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. Sparks spent parts of three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wasn’t that long ago Sparks was considered the logical backup to Leafs starter Frederik Andersen.

Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow is in good spirits following surgery on Monday to insert a feeding tube into his stomach. Snow was diagnosed with ALS in June 2019 but continues in his role with the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Snow in his battle against that terrible disease.

NBC SPORTS: The Dallas Stars revealed their all-white Reverse Retro uniforms over the weekend.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Great camouflage tactic by the Stars.







39 Comments

  1. Setting aside whether the season will , or should be a go from an overall perspective; or which owners would financially be better off with no season….

    Re Dreger and owners threat of canceling the season …. “force majeure …… pandemic”

    To me that’s going to be hard to argue in court as they (owners) are stating right now that they CAN do a season but just need financial help (more deferral and/or escrow).

    If they (owners) tried to cancel the season through the CBA clause…. citing force majeure due to COVID; wouldn’t the easy counter argument by NHLPA lawyers be… “it’s not COVID ….. logistically season can take place ….. please see all these proposals (by NHL) here of a completed season”

    A catch 22 in my mind

    To me the threat (NHL) of no season is an idle threat with those arguments

    There certainly may not end up being a season; and many would rightfully argue that there should not be one

    But citing COVID as rationale to opt out of an agreement (for this year) while arguing now that “we can do it with some financial help”…. counter argumentative

    Wild guess at end picture:

    ~15/1 Training camp start for 7 teams; 20/1 for the other 24

    1/2 Season starts…. 48 games; Div realignment including CanDiv

    Sched in rotating road trips ( about 7 games [in 11-12 days] in two cities in Div) ; followed by 5 home days no games; followed by 7 games [11 -12 days] at home against 2 opponents ); repeat…. season done by Mid May’ish…. playoffs start right after, slightly condensed sched… Cup awarded mid July ( before start of Olympics [if a go] )

    No fans to start

    Perhaps (pending local rules) some fans starting 1/3 …. gradually increasing to about 30- 40 max capacity (only some arenas) by EOS. Slightly more fans in playoffs

    2% – 3% further increase in escrow; 5% increase in deferral ….. but that deferral and previous 10% agreed upon…. ALL gets paid back with interest

    • Pengy, does it not seem ridiculous to have franchises in the league that will be better off if there is no season?
      Would the league not be stronger, much stronger, without these anchors holding it back?
      The English Premier League, one of the strongest in the world, has twenty teams and seems to be doing rather well.
      It really pisses me off to hear about owners who want to cancel the season because they’ll lose less money that way.
      If you feel that way, schmuck, sell the damn team!

      • I think so too, BCLF. The re-distribution of players would make the league a little stronger, and it would mercifully shorten a normal season, which now ends in June for F*&^ sake.

        But pigs will fly/hell will freeze over/pick your saying before Bettman will let franchises fold. Would reduce the geographic footprint and with it the appeal of a major US TV deal – Bettman’s great white whale.

        It would also be admitting that the NHL remains the 4th professional sport in the US.

        All of which is why I believe any move by the owners to cancel the season would be a major credibility disaster for the NHL – the only true force majeure.

      • With you BCLeafFan

        Contraction and/or some relocations can only improve the League as a whole

        The Desert Dog franchise brainstorm was ludicrous to start with and still is…. we know who’s “brilliant” idea that was (and his same stubbornness has kept it there)

        Drop two and redistribute the players, and relocate 2 more…. I’m ok with that idea 👍👍

        Setting aside my GTA centric bias….. the straight economics of moving a massively losing franchise like Arz to become a 2nd GTA franchise turns all that loss (in Arz) that is supported by rev sharing ; into a huge HRR generator (as a 2nd team in the GTA)… shared amongst the league. That negative to positive swing has to be at least $80 M annually

        I’ve used Arz and GTA2 as examples only…. the premise holds…continuously financial losing franchises dropped and/or relocated(replaced by) “new” highly profitable franchises; can only make the league better

        Will this happen ???? Unfortunately , IMHO, a long shot

      • LJ wouldnt elimination of teams eliminate many NHL jobs with players that currently have one? You really think that within the rank & file of the players union they would like to see teams go under? Wouldnt that create a fracture within the players union itself as well as drag down the value of franchises for the owners? If 10 teams have to drop out of playing during a pandemic, a lot of players & stars are out of work, it would be a fiasco.

      • Kevin, I agree that the players union would not want to see a reduction in franchises.

        I am speaking for myself as a fan. A normal pre-season, regular season, and then playoffs until June is far too long a season for my tastes. And surely there is a quality issue as well. How much fun is it to see your favourite team struggling half way through yet another back to back game, or worse a third in four nights — just to stuff more games in a season? Not much, in my opinion.

        PS: Which of the rumored half dozen owners who would rather see the season cancelled than lose money are? Could they be low revenue teams like Arizona, Florida and Columbus, for example, those hot beds of hockey?

      • What does contraction have to do with a shorter season? Keep the teams and cut back on games.

        The league doesn’t need to contract. There is plenty of talent and the talent pool is growing. Partly cause of the league expansion.

        Cut the awful chl deal out and let young players play professionally. That would be a huge factor in improving league talent.

    • Pengy, one could argue yes we put forth all of these proposal, which is intended to help mitigate some of our losses and without any of these proposed measures being meet, the overall financial burden is to much to carry forward. If there was no covid-1p there is no discussion, Covid-19 is the only reason we have cancel the season.

      This is why there is a court, for the lawyer to fight it out and the Judge makes a decision.

      I don’t see it coming to that, as it benefits no one and will have an adverse effect on the league as a whole.

      • Hi Caper

        I’m with you in that is what appears to be NHL’s argument and of course Lawyers will be the only true winners if it goes to court ….. but I just can’t see it (NHL argument) holding much water

        CBA has assured Rev sharing…. now or in future

        Owners take on risks (expenditures and investments mainly) in the hopes of reaping profits and/or asset(s) value gain. I am a business owner and accept that risk/reward formulae. This spring was painful.

        NHL could argue for cancelation of season say in times of war and per CBA would not owe Salaries to players

        What I challenge is their argument that they can’t proceed (to play the season) as is now because of expected cash-flow shortfall and losses (not covered under the CBA) but CAN proceed with cash-flow help.

        The season go/no go to them ; per that argument; is NOT Covid Force Majeure related…. because they HAVE proposed a deal that CAN have a season…. the only difference is $’s…. “show me the money” and we can have a season

        You are absolutely right…. push comes to shove…. settled in court…. but in my lay opinion; owners have forced themselves into an artificial catch-22 situation that they therefore have a very very long-shot of winning and thus are waving a plausibly moot threat flag

        That’s just my opine from my armchair fan’s perch

    • Agree that some teams will lose $$ and some won’t.
      The CDN TV ($5.232B over 12 years) deal is way more lucrative than the US one, plus local TV deals that add more revenue. Teams like the Leafs will make $.
      To me it would seem that the teams that drive the revenue would hold the most sway.
      Other sports have different business models, but the NFL shares revenue among the teams to some extent.
      Perhaps that is a possible solution for this season.

      Reality check, that will never happen!

      • What you are recommending is so bush-league , Canada-centric that it’s laughable! Really, 12 teams? The growth of hockey in major US markets over the past 25 years has been remarkable. Rinks are being built with 2-4 sheets of ice all over the U.S. Youth Hockey and College Hockey is exploding in the United States and the demographic of youth players is growing with it…But you want to pull back to 12 teams in North America. Brilliant! Is this because a Canadian team hasn’t won since 1993?

      • Very Likely Marko. Presumably, what some would like to see is the league reduced to only the 12 richest teams and with the cap eliminated. Then some of the 15-20 goals scorers can start making money like bullpen pitchers or back-up point guards – and Lord knows there would be far fewer pedestals for which the heroes to stand on while they’re worshiped by the adoring throngs.

      • Has zip to do with a Canadian Team winning doesn’t even make any sense look at CANADAS record in Olympics World juniors and Canada cup Domination without Canadians there is no NHL period.

  2. Arguing force majeure pandemic while negotiating financial help isn’t a problem at all for NHL lawyers.

    It makes perfect sense to continue negotiating in a fluid situation until outside factors make the point moot.

    In the last month covid deaths have doubled, The covid deaths in the US are staggering and that’s before the Thanksgiving spike.

    Allan Walsh loves the twitter megaphone to give one sided opinions based on hopes and prayers trying to set a narrative.

    The reality on the ground is worsening daily and it’s becoming increasingly sensible to cancel the season.

    • Marko, you’re absolutely right and the growth of the game in the US is terrific for the sport and the NHL. A WNHL would be just as terrific and hopefully it’s a part of the near-future.
      I just think the NHL could use some new owners like the ones in Seattle – from a west coast perspective, that was a great move by the league.
      There might be addition by subtraction in a few other situations though. Time will tell.

  3. In practice, most force majeure clauses do not excuse a party’s non-performance entirely, but only suspend it for the duration of the force majeure. Ultimately, though, no matter how long the pandemic endures, the owners invoking that clause would likely eliminate the hockey season, whatever the court’s decision regarding the clause’s legal application. By the time the court decides, it will be too late for a hockey season.

    • Hi Francis

      Absolutely

      I really can’t see the NHL trying to invoke this

      Tactics only now

      The season will happen IF it can

      No matter what….. teams like Arz are still losing big-time …. they just lose more if season is played and Salaries (at whatever level) are owed

    • I’m not a lawyer but I think it would be tough to convince a judge that the NHL season can’t be completed when all other major sports have staged their seasons in the same circumstances.

      If it happened that a dragged out court case killed the season and the judge found in favor of the NHL PA wouldn’t the owners still be on the hook for salaries?

      • If the time required for a court decision would itself make staging a season impossible, I suppose that financial issues may require another court case. However, which party wins or loses in court doesn’t immediately affect me. I want to see a hockey season, and the possibility of the legal system preventing that is my concern.

  4. It is so frustrating that everything is in jeopardy due to the sad sack franchises that dont deserve a team. Hold firm NHLPA, we need to contract the league at least by 50% (ideally to 12 teams). That will solve everything. Strong teams that will honor the CBA they just agreed to and the elimination of the bottom half of NHL rosters. The game would then be awesome and TV rights would go through the roof due to the quality injection.

    Let’s have something good from this horrible pandemic.

    Ps if you dont know if your team would make the 16 or 12 team superleague spoiler alert they won’t.

    GO LEAFS GO.

    • What you are recommending is so bush-league , Canada-centric that it’s laughable! Really, 12 teams? The growth of hockey in major US markets over the past 25 years has been remarkable. Rinks are being built with 2-4 sheets of ice all over the U.S. Youth Hockey and College Hockey is exploding in the United States and the demographic of youth players is growing with it…But you want to pull back to 12 teams in North America. Brilliant! Is this because a Canadian team hasn’t won since 1993?

      • There would only be the Leafs and Habs in the 12 team league. The worst thing gor true hockey fans has been the expansion in both countries diluting the product yo barely watchable.

        Wh cares about the US and hockey growth there. It will never matter down there.

        Wake up and embrace reality. The league and the sport would be immensely better if it was only the original six plus at most Philly, Pittsburg, LA Kings, VGK, Buffalo and either the North Stars or the Blues.

      • Hey Wendell… what year do you think this is right now?

      • Minnesota can have their team as long as they dump the stupid indoor soccer league name…and I only added StL due to their awesome original white jersey.

      • It’s 2020

        Duh.

  5. Would being an average NHL player change the perspective of those wanting to downsize the league?

    Fewer teams means fewer jobs. Fewer jobs means greater competition for existing jobs, and that leads to lower salaries being offered.

    As a fan, you wouldn’t see nearly as many great players coming from Europe if there’s no jobs and less money to be had in North America. You would see the overall quality of hockey decline with the number of NHL teams, as the size of the youthful population inspired to play the game by exposure to it decreases, along with the financial incentive to learn to play it. In fact, you might not have become a fan, let alone a paying customer, if you were never exposed to the game.

    Parochialism favors the big fish in a small pool–until the pool stagnates from lack of fresh water.

    • Well said Francis, reducing teams isn’t going to happen and agree with Marko on the growth part of his post. The no CDN team winning is a bit of a low blow, easy big fella.
      There are more hockey players all over the world and the biggest growth opportunity is the US due to it’s size. The game is more skilled and faster than ever. The rest of the world is catching up, natural progression of things.

      The reason we are so passionate about hockey in Canada and in places like Sweden and Russia is because so many of us played the game as kids and continue to as adults. That is happening more and more in the US.

      This is the long game and I think Mr Bettman is right and will stick with the plan.

      If the season gets cancelled because Covid is out of control, OK. It won’t be because they couldn’t settle on a deal, Bettman will keep it on the rails as he knows it would be a mistake long term to cancel over a contract dispute.

    • wrong Francis. Fewer teams means the slugs are gone and the elite players are in NHL making all of the available money not sharing it with the 3rd and 4th line interchangables.. The culled teams join AHL or own league at the hugely reduced salaries they should be getting. The jobs stay the same for the arena workers and they may get increases since the payrolls in lower league are far more reasonable. No one comes to rink or watches to see Zach Hyman except his immediate family. People tune in or show up to watch AM34. He should be making 100 x more than Hyman not 5 x. It is ridiculous.

      Fans want a high quality product. A 12 team league provides this and includes all the important NA markets to generate interest and ratings. It would be a boom.

      CULL.THE.HERD.

      • If the nhl never expanded to Arizona you don’t have mr mathews. You just torpedoed your own argument.

      • Chrisms–There must have been telepathy, I used Mathews in my reply a little while after you posted. Thanks for sending me the idea from across the ionosphere.

    • Francis, your theories don’t hold up.

      Fewer jobs mean more competition and better players getting them. That should need no elaboration.

      Certainly fewer teams will mean lower revenue and lower salary but the average NHL salary is so much higher than any other league save the KHL even a major salary decline would pay almost all players more in the NHL.

      So it is not parochialism at all. If you don’t believe me check out the salary ranges from the non NHL leagues throughout the world:

      https://www.icehockeyjobs.com/salary-expectations/

      • Lj__The greater the number of equally qualified applicants vying for a single position, the greater the remunerative advantage of the hiring organization. An exceptional person can name his price. but when many are qualified to do the same job, the job pays less and, therefore, attracts fewer people.

        Expansion has provided more hockey jobs and produced more and better-qualified players as more people have become fans after being introduced to the sport. A guy like Austin Matthews from San Ramon, California, might never have heard of hockey if it weren’t for expansion.

  6. wrong Francis. Fewer teams means the slugs are gone and the elite players are in NHL making all of the available money not sharing it with the 3rd and 4th line interchangables.. The culled teams join AHL or own league at the hugely reduced salaries they should be getting. The jobs stay the same for the arena workers and they may get increases since the payrolls in lower league are far more reasonable. No one comes to rink or watches to see Zach Hyman except his immediate family. People tune in or show up to watch AM34. He should be making 100 x more than Hyman not 5 x. It is ridiculous.

    Fans want a high quality product. A 12 team league provides this and includes all the important NA markets to generate interest and ratings. It would be a boom.

    CULL.THE.HERD.

    • Culling the herd when the league is at its highest quality, when Canadian players make up only 40% of the league?

      Less teams will have the European leagues improving and paying more,increasing competition for the players not less.

      Sweden, Russia, Finland, Germany would love to keep their players and import Canadians in growing leagues.

      There’s money for sports over there with a history of rabid fans and hockey with top notch players would satisfy that thirst.

  7. A league that size would reduce the quality of hockey to what it was before 1970, when the population of Canada was just over 21 million, most people who played hockey were Canadian, and the average player salary was $18,000. In those days, a 5′ 8” “slug” like Jim Rutherford could hope to have a successful NHL career because Bobby Orr was one of a few player who could fire the puck at more than 80 mph. Halak is today’s smallest goalie at 5′ 11.’ because those who evaluate talent know that today’s shooters would blow the puck by or through somebody who is smaller

    • You make absolutely no sense, zero , none , zilch. What even was your point?

    • I understand what he is trying to say Wendel. Perhaps it isn’t Francis that is struggling with this.
      The simple fact is since the NHL started recruiting and allowing players from all over the world to play the talent level has risen. Coaches, trainers etc started sharing best practices all over the world and the level of skill and fitness has improved by leaps and bounds as well.
      Teams could hide a tough guy/enforcer on their 4th line and now that line gets roasted with one weak link because the other team’s 4th line has speed and skill as well. That never used to be the case.

      The quality of play and players has never been better and simply watching a game from 20 years ago makes that obvious.
      Ignoring large markets for short term gain, is, well, short sighted.
      A larger market means more $$ for everybody long term. No different than any business expanding their market.
      Seattle is paying $650M to get in, that should tell you everything you need to know.
      Will some owners and locations struggle, sure. But there won’t be fewer of them, they may just relocate. My guess is they will stay the course as long as they can to build a following where they are.

      • Yup.

      • Thanks, Ray for explaining it much more thoroughly than I did. Hopefully, you’ve gotten through to those who lack your understanding.