GARY BETTMAN

NHL Draft Hockey Pavel Mintyukov puts on an Anaheim Ducks jersey after being selected during nthe NHL hockey draft in Montreal on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, Fedotov signed with the Flyers in May after completing his contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL. The war in Ukraine and status of Russian players in North America have become sensitive subjects around the league. Several agents who represent Russian players have declined comment, while NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman chose his words carefully when addressing the matter on Thursday. He reiterated the NHL has issued no directives to teams over whether or not they can draft Russian players.

Canada NHL Draft Prospects Hockey Juraj Slafkovsky, of Slovakia, speaks to reporters at the NHL Draft top hockey prospects media availability, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)MONTREAL — (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens selected winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the first pick in the NHL draft Thursday night, making him the first player from Slovakia to be taken No. The Canadiens were choosing between Slafkovsky, Wright and American forward Logan Cooley in their first time atop the draft since 1980. The youngest player in the tournament was the biggest reason Slovakia won an Olympic bronze medal for the first time. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The Montreal Canadiens have selected Slovak winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the first pick in the NHL draft.

The Colorado Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup after dethroning the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

The chairman of the Nashville Predators has agreed to sell the majority of his stake in the NHL team to former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

Lightning Avalanche Hockey NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference before Game 1 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)DENVER — (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is projecting record revenue this season, an increase he credits to more scoring leading to higher television ratings and more interest in the game. Bettman at his annual state of the league address Wednesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final estimated revenue will surpass $5.2 billion. An average of 6.28 goals were scored each game during the regular season, the highest scoring rate since 1992-93. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is projecting record revenue this season.

Josh Manson scored 8:02 into overtime, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in his return to the net from an eye injury, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in Game 1 of their second-round series.

The start of the NHL playoffs included more penalties called than any other first round in almost a decade.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist and the Florida Panthers topped the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday night to even their Eastern Conference first-round series at a game apiece.

Turner Sports and ESPN are carrying the NHL playoffs after they aired for 16 years on NBC and NBCSN.

Seth Jarvis and Nino Niederreiter scored second-period goals while Antti Raanta was strong in net to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins 5-1 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Puck and player tracking in the NHL has taken major leaps since it was first tested in January 2019.

Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur, who helped the Montreal Canadiens win five Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, has died at age 70.

The NHL has unveiled a new logo for the Stanley Cup playoffs and Final that replaces the one used for the last 13 years.

The NHL is launching a faceoff probability stat that uses 10 years of data to determine the likelihood of each player in the circle winning the draw.

Emile “The Cat” Francis, the diminutive goalie who became a Hall of Fame coach and general manager with the New York Rangers has died.

The Arizona Coyotes will use Arizona State’s new on-campus hockey arena for at least the next three years while the team looks for a permanent home.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of coronavirus restrictions and a missed Olympics. Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday that the NHL Global Series will return next season with preseason games in Germany and Switzerland, followed by regular-season games in Finland and the Czech Republic. "We had established momentum in terms of having a greater and more regular presence of games in Europe. “I think this has been very emotional and frustrating and draining for the Blackhawks and Rocky in particular,” Bettman said. “We're not sure there's going to be a material difference between their revenues at ASU than where they are in Glendale," Bettman said.

Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement, making official what seemed inevitable in recent days when the list of postponed games grew to 50.

Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement, making official what seemed inevitable in recent days when the list of postponed games grew to 50.

More than 50 regular season games have been postponed amid an outbreak across the league.

NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) (Julio Cortez)NHL players will not be allowed to participate in the Beijing Olympics after the league pulled the plug amid a rash of postponements caused by positive COVID-19 test results. International officials and national federations must now pivot to Plan B for a second consecutive Olympic men’s hockey tournament without NHL players. When Olympic participation was confirmed in September, teams were sent two versions of the NFL schedule. The league and NHLPA have a deal for Olympic participation as part of their collective bargaining agreement extension through that year.

The NHL has announced that players won't be able to participate in the Beijing Olympics.

Some NHL players say they are unsettled by word that a positive COVID-19 test during the Winter Olympics in China could lead to a long quarantine.

The Jack Eichel era in Buffalo is over.

Blackhawks-Investigation Hockey FILE - The names of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, left, are displayed on the Stanley Cup in the lobby of the United Center during an NHL hockey news conference on June 11, 2013 in Chicago. The first game of the Stanley Cup final series is Wednesday in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks held settlement talks Tuesday with an attorney for a former player who is suing the team after he accused an assistant coach of sexual assault in 2010 and the team largely ignored the allegations. The NHL fined Chicago $2 million for “the organization’s inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response” to Beach’s allegations. After Bettman spoke to the media Monday, the team apologized for saying Beach's allegations lacked merit.

The Chicago Blackhawks have held settlement talks with the attorney for a former player who has sued the team.

Canucks Kraken Hockey NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before an NHL hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren)Commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday defended the NHL’s decisions and discipline meted out following an investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks' handling of sexual assault allegations in 2010. Bettman called the organization's $2 million fine "significant" and stood by decisions to let Joel Quenneville coach one more game and not discipline Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff based on his limited role in Chicago's front office at the time. Quenneville resigned as Florida Panthers coach after meeting with Bettman last week. The NHL Players’ Association has an executive board meeting scheduled for later Monday to discuss how Beach’s allegations were handled.

Commissioner Gary Bettman is defending the NHL’s handling of disciplinary matters following an investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks over sexual assault allegations in 2010.

Canucks Kraken Hockey NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before an NHL hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Seattle. Susan Loggans, an attorney representing Beach in a lawsuit against the team, said Bettman expressed his “sincere regret” over what Beach had experienced. He also offered the NHL's help with psychological services and anything else that the league had available. Beach, 31, also is slated to meet with Donald Fehr, the leader of the NHL players’ association, on Saturday in a separate video conference call. According to the Blackhawks' report, Fehr was contacted twice about allegations connected to Aldrich, including by a Beach confidant.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has talked to Kyle Beach about what the league can do to better protect its players after Beach said he was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach in 2010 and his allegations were largely ignored by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jets Cheveldayoff Hockey FILE - Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff talks to media during the first day of the NHL training camp in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sept. 13, 2019. The NHL decided Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, not to discipline former Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff for his role in the club’s mishandling of sexual assault allegations made by a player in 2010. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP, File) (JOHN WOODS)NEW YORK — (AP) — Former Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will not be penalized by the NHL for his role in the club’s mishandling of sexual assault allegations made by a player in 2010. Commissioner Gary Bettman met with Cheveldayoff, now GM of the Winnipeg Jets, on Friday morning. Bettman said Cheveldayoff's status as a low-ranking team official and his limited role in that meeting absolved him of authority to address the allegations.

Andrew Brunette is ready to coach the Florida Panthers for as long as the team needs.

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to cover the name of an assistant coach on the Stanley Cup after he was accused of sexually assaulting a player during the team’s run to the 2010 title.

The NHL has decided not to discipline a former Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager for his role in the club's mishandling of sexual assault allegations made by a player in 2010.

Joel Quenneville has quit as coach of the Florida pro hockey team following a report about the handling of sexual assault claims from a player at the Blackhawks during Quenneville's tenure there.

An investigation found then-Blackhawks coach Quenneville did not prioritize addressing sexual assault allegations.

Joel Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers on Thursday, two days after the second-winningest coach in NHL history was among those implicated for not swiftly responding to allegations by a Chicago Blackhawks player of being sexually assaulted by another coach during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The former player at the heart of the Chicago Blackhawks assault scandal has come forward publicly.

The Panthers are rolling this season but coach Joel Quenneville being named in a report detailing how the Chicago Blackhawks mishandled sexual assault allegations that an assistant on his staff sexually assaulted a player during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010 could derail Florida's hopes.

Stan Bowman, the general manager and president of hockey operations, resigned in the wake of the findings by an outside law firm.

Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville says he'll meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday to discuss his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual abuse scandal.

The day started with Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato on top of the iconic Space Needle raising a deep blue flag with the tentacle shaped ‘S’ flying over the city.

Several months after COVID-19 vaccinations were made widely available in the United States, vaccination status continues to disrupt professional and college sports.

It allowed the fully vaccinated 69-year-old the opportunity to underscore the message that the virus is still part of the NHL and other professional sports leagues 19 months into the pandemic. Major League Baseball, in the middle of its postseason, reports 87.4% of players and key staff are fully vaccinated. Bettman noted last week the NHL had only four unvaccinated players out of more than 700 — well over 99% fully vaccinated. The NHL's agreement to go to the Olympics requires all participants to be fully vaccinated, which could lead New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to change his mind, as well. Leagues have still endured COVID-19 cases involving fully vaccinated players, coaches and staff.

The NHL has suspended San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.

That means about 99% of NHL players have gotten the vaccine. "All of our officials are vaccinated. All of the personnel that come into contact with the players are vaccinated," the commissioner adds.

Tristan Jarry had 26 saves, Danton Heinen and Brian Boyle scored early second-period goals, and the short-handed Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in the regular-season opener.

NHL players are going back to the Olympics.

Jersey advertisements are coming to the NHL.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has denied allegations his wife made on social media that he bet on NHL games, including against his own team.

The NHL said it will investigate an allegation made by Evander Kane’s wife that the San Jose Sharks forward bet on his own games and has intentionally tried to lose for gambling profit. The league said Saturday night on Twitter that it was made aware of the social media posts by Anna Kane and plans to conduct a full investigation. The NHL said: “The integrity of our game is paramount and the League takes these allegations very seriously.”

University of Michigan dominates start of NHL draft with defenseman Owen Power and forward Matthew Beniers becoming the first teammates selected first and second overall since 1969.

Kraken Expansion Draft Hockey NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren)SEATTLE — (AP) — Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the NHL schedule will include a break for the 2022 Winter Olympics even though there is no commitment the league’s players will go to Beijing in February. “I don’t believe there will be an update on the Olympics by the time we release the schedule,” Bettman said ahead of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. His tone hasn’t changed much in the weeks since and said the schedule release Thursday will have built-in mechanisms to adjust should players not take part. Bettman declined to explain how the schedule will be adjusted should the Olympic break not be needed.

Commissioner Gary Bettman says the NHL schedule will include a break for the 2022 Winter Olympics even though there is no commitment the league's players will go to Beijing.

A Nashville Predators prospect has come out as gay, a milestone moment for the sport of hockey as the first player signed to an NHL contract to make that declaration publicly. Luke Prokop said he was proud to say he is gay. The 19-year-old Canadian who was a third-round pick in the 2020 draft last fall, posted his announcement to Twitter on Monday. “From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink improve my chances for filling my dreams.”No active NHL player has come out as gay. Prokop said he hopes his example shows that gay people are welcome in the hockey community.

"I am no longer scared to hide who I am," Prokop said. "Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay."

The 19-year-old said in an Instagram post that he "could not be happier with my decision to come out." His team, the Nashville Predators, and league officials have congratulated him.

“Now it’s fast and furious trying to figure out what they can get done.”And not much time to do it. Lawton, now an NHL Network analyst, said it's going to feel like the shortest offseason in league history. This offseason is a big opportunity for teams to chart a course to attempt to follow the Lightning as Stanley Cup champions. “Everyone understands the reality.”For the Lightning and 31 other NHL teams, the reality is everything will happen fast. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Expect a fast and furious NHL offseason to unfold in the coming days and weeks.

Blue Jackets Kivlenieks Hockey FILE - Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (80) is shown during the second period of an NHL hockey game in New York, in this Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, file photo. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Latvian Hockey Federation said Monday, July 5, 2021, that 24-year-old goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks has died. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) (Kathy Willens)The Columbus Blue Jackets and Latvian Hockey Federation said Monday that 24-year-old goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks has died. The Blue Jackets called it a “tragic accident.” Commissioner Gary Bettman offered condolences in a statement. The Latvian Hockey Federation called Kivlenieks' death “a great loss not only for Latvian hockey but for the entire Latvian nation."

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast in what authorities described as a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.

NBC has added many technical innovations, but its most pronounced is having an analyst positioned inside the glass and between both team benches. “I said to Gary, ‘We need the position inside the glass between the two benches. NBC's coverage of the NHL was supposed to begin in January of 2005, but the season was cancelled due to the lockout. The NHL this season received $350 million in broadcast revenue from NBC ($250 million) and Disney Streaming Services ($100 million for digital rights). The upcoming deals will average $625 million a year ($400 million from Disney and $225 million from Turner).

Stanley Cup Bettman Hockey FILE - In this March 7, 2020, file photo, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to members of the media in Sunrise, Fla. Bettman says time is running out to reach a deal to send players to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The league, players, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation continue negotiations. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (Wilfredo Lee)TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said time is running out to reach a deal to send players to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, casting doubt on the league's return to that event after skipping it in 2018. The league, players' union, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation continue to negotiate with the Olympics seven months away. “We have real concerns about whether it’s sensible,” Bettman said, noting the league will go if a deal can be reached.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says time is running out to reach a deal to send players to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Vegas forward Ryan Reaves was suspended two games by the NHL for his roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct on Colorado’s Ryan Graves during the Golden Knights’ 7-1 loss in Game 1 of their second-round series Sunday.

The New York Rangers have been fined $250,000 by the NHL for criticizing head of player safety George Parros.

Tyrrell Hatton is the fourth player out of the Valspar Championship because of a positive test for the coronavirus.

The National Hockey League is coming to TNT.

“Few men in the history of our game were more closely connected to a city and a franchise than Bob Plager was to St. Louis and the Blues,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “In the lineup for the Blues’ inaugural game on Oct. 11, 1967, he assisted on the first goal in franchise history and committed the Blues’ first penalty that night – thus commencing a 54-year association with the organization.”

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb 2, 2017 file photo, Former St. Louis Blues player Bob Plager waves to fans while speaking during a ceremony to retire his number before an NHL hockey game between the Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs in St. Louis. Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager was killed Wednesday, March 24, 2021 in a car crash in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)ST. LOUIS – Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager was killed Wednesday in a car crash in St. Louis. “It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager,” the team said in a statement. “He was an original 1967 member of the St. Louis Blues, but also an original in every sense of the word.

Media pundits believe the rights package of NHL's new seven-year deal with ESPN is worth $400 million per year. But post-breakup, ESPN continued to value NHL content by centering coverage around longtime analyst Barry Melrose. Dan Cohen, senior vice president of Octagon's Global Media Rights Consulting division, said the NHL could solicit more than $600 million annually for its entire package. He added that the NHL "would be best served to renew its other rights package with NBC, who has invested heavily in marketing the NHL and who can offer a tri-cast distribution model." "Something that has as much volume as hockey, they can go with a tri-cast model across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+/Hulu."

AP Photo/Chris Seward)A year after the pandemic temporarily shut down the NHL, a handful of roadblocks remain to handing out the Stanley Cup again this season — including the U.S.-Canada border. The border remains closed to nonessential travel, an issue the NHL addressed before the 2021 season began in January by realigning its divisions. But the league has a decision looming on what to do when a Canadian team faces a U.S. opponent in the third round of the playoffs. Talks are ongoing with Canadian government officials, though nothing needs to be settled yet since cross-border play won't happen until mid-June. “We’ve got a little bit of time to deal with this,” Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said during a video interview Thursday.

Players stand on the ice during the playing of the national anthem before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Detroit. The NHL and ESPN are together again after announcing a seven-year agreement that also includes extensive streaming rights. “This is a win, win, win. ESPN will produce 75 national games per season that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu. Disney owns two-thirds of Hulu and has been offering packages that include Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+.

FILE - National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to members of the media , Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Sunrise, Fla. The National Hockey League will be returning to ESPN beginning next season. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, file)The National Hockey League will return to ESPN beginning next season. ESPN started airing NHL games when it went on the air in 1979 by making deals with individual teams. It had the national NHL rights from 1985-88 and 1992-2004.

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch (89) races for the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of of Outdoor Lake Tahoe NHL hockey game at Stateline, Nev., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli))STATELINE, Nev. – Nathan MacKinnon scored a dazzling goal more than nine hours after assisting on another to highlight a most unusual and lengthy outdoor game at Lake Tahoe that the Colorado Avalanche won 3-2 over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Although it’s fair to say that none of those had the picturesque setting of this rink located on the 18th fairway of a golf course on the shores of Lake Tahoe and surrounded by trees with snow-covered mountains towering in the background. Fleury made 36 saves for Vegas and fell to 0-3 in three career outdoor game starts. AdPART 1The Avs controlled the play under the sun, getting an early goal from Girard and outshooting Vegas 17-8 in the first 20 minutes.

Members of the Colorado Avalanche, in white, and the Vegas Golden Knights, red play during the first period of the Outdoor Lake Tahoe NHL hockey game in Stateline, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. The NHL decided to halt the game Saturday afternoon because bright sun and temperatures hovering around freezing led to poor ice conditions that had players and officials repeatedly falling because of holes on the ice. We obviously didn’t want anyone getting hurt. The ice was great.”But the delay didn't alter Bettman's commitment to outdoor games, even in unconventional settings outside of a stadium venue like Lake Tahoe. Both teams were unable to practice on the specially built outdoor rink before Saturday's Vegas-Colorado game because of the ice conditions.

Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Boston's David Pastrnak share the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy the league announced Thursday, May 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)Since the NHL is planning to go straight to the playoffs, it's handing out a handful of trophies for the regular season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Not long after unveiling a 24-team right to the playoffs format, the league on Thursday announced the winners of its regular-season awards. Although Ovechkin was stopped short of a ninth 50-goal season, his ninth goal-scoring title extends his NHL record. The benefit and the curse of a bye, I suppose.___For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Staple Center is one of the possible locations the NHL has zeroed in on to host playoff games if it can return amid the coronavirus pandemic. Seven of the 10 locations the NHL has zeroed in on to hold playoff games if it resumes are American cities not restricted by Canadas 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Before the NHL commits to where games could be held, officials are planning for multiple scenarios. But that isnt stopping NHL executives from pitching the ability to host playoff games. None of us would agree to a situation where we are taking away testing from people that need it, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said.

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2015, file photo, NHL Player's Association executive director Donald Fehr, left, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman are shown during a news conference at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. You have to prepare for what we hope is going to be a consensus that we can and should play, NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr told The Associated Press. The NHL projects players might be allowed to begin returning for voluntary workouts next week. Bettman announced the NHL has narrowed the list to 10: Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. The committee not only proposed the 24-team format, but also devised a list of protocols for teams to follow once players return to their facilities.

The National Hockey League moved one step closer to resuming its season that was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday the league officially ended its regular season and will skip to a playoff tournament to determine its 2019-20 Stanley Cup champion. The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) executive board approved the 24-team postseason format proposal on Friday. The league will rank teams in each conference by percentage points used from March 11 standings, one day before the league suspended games due to Covid-19. The NHL is the latest league to gingerly resume operations after suspended its games due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman on Tuesday announced the league's plan and tentative timetable to resume play. Bettman said the 2019-2020 NHL regular season is effectively over, and play will resume with the Stanley Cup playoffs. Once play is allowed to resume, the top 12 teams from each conference will enter the playoffs. The remaining eight teams in each conference will play best-of-five elimination series to determine which teams move on to the first round. Bettman said the league hopes to move to phase two of return to play in early June.

I was planning on going down there before all this stuff happened, Boykin said on a video-conference call Tuesday. But next week Ill be down there training with those guys.To this point, Boykin has been playing catch with backup quarterback Trace McSorley around Baltimore. The fact that I have Trace here to be able to work with me is huge, Boykin said. Boykin will join Jackson, second-year receiver Marquise Brown and several others in Florida. There is still no timetable for the resumption of game action or when players can return to team facilities for voluntary workouts.

FILE - In this May 27, 2019, file photo, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins, in Boston. Bettman unveiled a 24-team straight to playoffs format the league will use if it can clear the other hurdles to resume its season. The NHL and the NHL Players' Association must still figure out health and safety protocols and solve other issues, including where to play. Bettman has said the goal has always been to play again and award the Stanley Cup, but details remain uncertain. For us to even finish the season and award (the Stanley Cup), I know a lot of work went into it.

The person spoke after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced border restrictions will stay in effect through June 21. In a separate development, the NHLPAs executive board voted to defer the final payment of players regular season salaries through the end of May. Daly declined to comment on the latest deferment, saying its a decision left entirely to players. The decision on when and how to resume the season is being left with a committee made up of representatives of the NHL and NHL Players Association. There is no set deadline as to when play must resume before the NHL considers canceling the season.

Commissioner Gary Bettman says while no cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been reported in the National Hockey League, he wanted to get ahead of a worst-case scenario by pausing the season. "When the NBA had a positive test and they had to cancel a game at that moment, I decided to get ahead of it and not wait for one of our players to test positive," Bettman told CNBC's Scott Wapner. Bettman says while he's not aware of any NHL player testing positive for COVID-19, teams in the NHL have shared locker rooms that were also used by the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz. Two Jazz players have tested positive for COVID-19. That's not just my hope for the NHL and sports it's my hope for the country."

Bettman said he hopes the service will allow NHL fans to feel "comfortable if they are placing bets." NHL China Games, sponsored by the Chinese company O.R.G. The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks became the first to NHL teams to play in China in 2017. The feud between the NBA and China hasn't had any blow back on the NHL so far. He said the NHL hasn't has adopted a social media policy for its executives and players in light of the NBA's plight in China, saying the NHL hasn't issued a "memoranda" on the matter.