Although final approval awaits from the NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA membership, multiple sources reported on Friday night that the league and the union have reached a tentative return-to-play agreement. The league and the Canadian government also have to yet to finalize details that would allow a seven-team all-Canadian club division to play during the 2020-21 season, but this appears likely to come to fruition within a few days.
Here's what the agreement would mean for the Flyers:
* Training camp would start on January 3. This is a tentative date.
* The Flyers, like all NHL clubs, would not play any exhibition games.
* A 56-game regular season would start on Jan. 13. This is still a tentative date, and the number of games isn't set in stone yet but both appear to be the goals of both the NHL and NHLPA.
* The regular season would end on May 8. This, too, is tentative.
* To minimize travel and eliminate the issue of the closed U.S. border with Canada, every regular season game would be played within the four reconfigured divisions. For the Flyers, if there's a 56-game regular season, it would mean eight games apiece with the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.
* The top four teams in each Division would compete in the postseason, with the eventual playoff winner advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals.
* At least to start the season until the American Hockey League is able to start its own season (the AHL has targeted a February start), the Flyers and all other teams would have a 4-6 man taxi squad who will travel and practice with the NHL club but not be eligible to dress in games. Players on entry-level deals will be paid at the AHL rate. Unless players are recalled to the active NHL roster, it does not appear that there will be salary cap ramifications for the period of time they are on the taxi squad.
* All players will be paid their full-season salary, rather than on a prorated basis. However, there will 28 percent deducted for escrow, lost revenue make-goods and deferred compensation.
* Any player can opt out of the season if he or an immediate family member is in the high-risk category for COVID-19. However, the team will have the option of tolling a year on the player's contract; meaning that the player is not paid for the season and the player's contractual obligation for the 2020-21 season carries over to 2021-22.
******************
Quick Hits
1) The Flyers announced on Friday afternoon that the organization has signed 2019 fourth-round pick Mason Millman to an entry-level contract.
2) On the Flyers official website, we have a preview of the 2020-21 World Junior Championship with a focus on the three Flyers-affiliated participants (Cam York and Bobby Brink for Team USA and Emil Andrae for Sweden). For more, click here. Additionally, Jason Myrtetus interviewed York for Friday's edition of Flyers Daily on the Flyers Broadcast Network.
3) December 19 Flyers Alumni birthdays:
* Longtime National Hockey League defenseman Eric Weinrich was born December 19, 1966 in Roanoke, Virginia and raised in Gardiner, Maine.
* Memorable for his dual penchants for flying fists and offensive zone forays, defenseman Behn Wilson was born December 19, 1959 in Toronto.