NHL hopeful extension of border closure won't prevent restart

A closed border between the US and Canada could dash hopes for restarting the NHL season. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

NHL hopeful extension of Canadian border closure won't prevent league restart

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/19/20

On Tuesday, the United States and Canada agreed to expand the border closure to non-essential travel through June 21 because of the coronavirus pandemic:

#BREAKING news: An agreement has been reached between Canada and the United States to keep the border closed to all non-essential travel for another month, CTV News has learned. https://t.co/7NlpIwIrrk
— CTV News (@CTVNews) May 19, 2020

NHL fans worried this could further delay the restart of the 2019-20 season halted in March because of the virus outbreak shouldn't panic just yet.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told John Wawrow of the Associated Press (h/t CBC) he's optimistic Tuesday's news won't "have a material impact" on discussions among the NHL-NHL Players' Association Return to Play committee.

Seven of the league's clubs call Canada home, and multiple reports have confirmed the NHL is considering at least Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto as temporary hockey hubs to play out the remainder of the season.

The league could adopt a 24-team model and a brief pre-playoffs round-robin format ahead of crowning a Stanley Cup champion via a postseason tournament during the summer.

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