NHL exploring Edmonton, Toronto as Canadian hubs after Vancouver ‘snag’

rogers-arena

In this Sept. 16, 2012, file photo, a cyclist rides past Rogers Arena, the home of the Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey team, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via AP)

Following a snag in Vancouver’s bid to be a hub city for the NHL’s return-to-play plan, the league has begun focusing on other options, Sportsnet can confirm.

Global BC’s Richard Zussman reported Thursday that the NHL has “moved on” from Vancouver as an option “for now” but may circle back to it if the other Canadian options — Edmonton and Toronto — aren’t viable.

Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre reported on Wednesday that “discussions between the NHL, Canucks and provincial and regional health officials to finalize plans for Vancouver are stuck on a key concern: contingency plans should a player or players test positive for COVID-19 within the “bubble” the league wants established around teams.”

 
There's a snag with Vancouver's hub bid (and possibly Edmonton's and Toronto's?)
June 24 2020
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Despite rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Nevada, the NHL reportedly still sees Las Vegas as an NHL hub-city front-runner while Los Angeles and Chicago remain the other U.S. options.

While it’s unknown how the latest news will impact the NHL’s timeline, a final announcement on the league’s hub-city decision was expected to come as early as this week.

Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan, which will open training camps, is expected to start on July 10.

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