Provinces examine NHL proposal to play

TORONTO

The NHL has unveiled its plan.

The league and players’ association will attempt a 56-game regular season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic’s raging second wave, one set to include a Canadian hockey fan’s dream of every franchise from north of the 49th parallel battling it out in a one-time-only, braggingrights-on-the-line national division.

The NHL and NHLPA intentionally left wiggle room with some of the weekend announcement’s language — “(we) intend to be flexible and adaptable” — because of how quickly the coronavirus situation can change.

And there’s indeed still a long list of details that need hammering out, not the least of which being whether Canada’s seven teams will be allowed to play in their home arenas, either to start the schedule or at all.

For that to happen in the newly-created North Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets require health officials from the five provinces in question to sign off on any plan.

With the clock continuing to tick towards the league’s Jan. 13 puck drop, there was little clarity on the issue Monday.