Mika is back, Lettieri is in town as well. We have a new date for Phase 3 and we know where the NHL Finals are scheduled to be played.
Mika Zibanejad landed in New York from Sweden today, joining Vinni Lettieri, who also flew into the Gotham State.. As noted yesterday, in camp and on the ice already are Adam Fox, Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, Chris Kreider, Brendan Lemieux, Phil Di Giuseppe, Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Lindgren and Julien Gauthier. Awaiting clearance to play are Jacob Trouba, Vitali Kravtsov and Alexandar Georgiev, all of whom hopefully might be able to skate with their teammates this weekend. Others remaining to rejoin the team, though not required to be with the squad until training camp kicks off as part of Phase 3, include Kappo Kakko, who was to fly in with Georgiev, but is still in Finland but hopefully arrives this week. Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo, Jesper Fast, Henrik Lundqvist, Greg McKegg and Ryan Strome.
Filed under things you ð™¡ð™¤ð™«ð™š to see:@MikaZibanejad touching down in NYC. pic.twitter.com/Fu33FtibmC
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 2, 2020
The new Phase 3 date is July 13....as of now. The extra three days from the original date allows players in locations where COVID is spiking - Fla, Az, Tx - a few more days to see if things normalize. In addition, for players not yet in town, they have more time to show they are healthy and pass through any period of self-quarantine.
NHL advising teams that camps won’t open before 7/13, with that the new target date, Post has learned. (Pending ratification of agreement) https://t.co/39h7c2Fcll
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 2, 2020
In addition, as Larry Brooks and Greg Joyce reported: "the NHL and its Players Association are still working on ironing out the details of a “Return to Play… plan for Phase 3 and 4 (the resumption of play) and an extension of the collective bargaining agreement. As of Thursday afternoon, the proposal had not yet been finalized and presented to players, who were expected to have a conference call Thursday." Barring a snag, we could have an agreement to be voted on by this weekend. But as Brian Lawton stated, the margin of acceptance could be narrow, similar to the CBA signed by NFLPA with the NFL.
In speaking with players if/when a new CBA is presented to them for ratification the expectation is that the vote will be as close as the @NFLPA vote was. A simple majority is all that is needed to pass. @NHLNetwork
— Brian Lawton (@brianlawton9) July 2, 2020
Edmonton is the apparent locale for the finals, but nothing as we have seen is set in stone. As of now, regardless of where the Stanley Cup Finals are played, a player's family may be able to join them in the Hub location. All of this is COVID dependent, but we now have a bit more clarity.
Mountains of logistical matters on all of this. Site of Cup final will also be the site for both Eastern and Western Conference finals. Conference finals are, as I understand it, when the players’ families will be permitted to enter the bubble for the first time.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 2, 2020