Seemingly every day the coronavirus outbreak presents new challenges to sports leagues, and the NHL is currenlty working through yet another question mark raised by the outbreak and subsequent stoppage of play. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Will some NHL coaches be out of a contract on June 30?

As the NHL and NHL Players' Association reportedly near an agreement that could involve a 24-team model and a round-robin competition leading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic, teams face an interesting conundrum regarding some employees.

On Thursday, The Athletic's Michael Russo and Scott Burnside reported that players will likely have their contracts extended through the completion of the 2019-20 campaign rather than see them expire at the end of June, as usual.

What about coaches and other team personnel?

Russo wrote:

It’s believed there are between 15-20 assistant, associate, video or goaltender coaches whose contracts are up on June 30. For instance, in Minnesota, it’s thought that assistant coach Darby Hendrickson, goalie coach Bob Mason and video coach Jonas Plumb have contracts set to expire June 30.

No current full-time head coaches are set to be out of contract on June 30. Dallas Stars interim coach Rick Bowness and Calgary Flames interim coach Geoff Ward are both expected to remain with their clubs through the season's completion. 

Coaches and other employees of teams not participating in the campaign's resumption will become free agents after June 30. 

The hope is that logic will win the day and that all personnel will agree to extend their deals until their services are no longer required by their teams for the 2019-20 season. 

If supposed negotiations between MLB and the MLB Players Association have taught fans anything, though, it's that everyone would do well to pump the figurative brakes before they feel optimistic about a league resuming action this summer. 

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