NHL wants answer on Canada-USA travel by June 1

Reports surfaced in late April that NHL teams may not be allowed to travel between the United States and Canada for playoff games due to the continued closure of the border to non-essential travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

ESPN's Greg Wyshynski explained on Friday that the NHL wants that situation resolved by June 1.

"The conversations are ongoing," NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer told ESPN on Friday. "We've told them we really do need to know by the end of the first round, and that's around June 1. That's pretty much the date that we've talked to them about, saying we have to know one way or another." 

The NHL created the all-Canadian North Division for the pandemic-altered 2020-21 campaign and had clubs face only divisional opponents during the regular season and through the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The last four teams standing after the postseason's divisional stages advance to the semifinal round, where clubs will be reseeded based on regular-season records.

As things stand today, the remaining Canadian club would likely relocate to a U.S. city close to its opponent for the semifinal matchup to limit travel costs. Mayer added, though, that government officials may be more open to personnel traveling between the countries after two Canadian teams are eliminated in the tournament's first round. 

"Pretty soon it's going to be two. So if there's someone on the fence and that province goes away, it might be easier," he said. 

Current quarantine restrictions would prohibit American-based teams from playing in Canada without observing isolation periods. It seems, however, that all involved are hopeful a temporary team relocation won't be necessary.

"We're pretty confident. The conversations have been good ones with them. We're not there yet, but they haven't said no," Mayer told ESPN.