Dan’s Daily: Optimism for NHL Return, and the Other Argument

From the darkest moments and growing doubt sprang optimism for a new NHL season. On Friday, the NHL and NHLPA put aside the financial wrangling and focused on the 2021 NHL season framework. Without dollars and sense weighing down talks, the NHL Return got back on track as the two sides discussed schedules and dates.

Inside sources were firm to Hockey Now that there will be a season, and it wasn’t blind optimism (PHN+)

I know times are tough, again. If you’d like to subscribe to PHN+ for the backroom coverage of the negotiations, but $29.99 isn’t in the budget, just drop me an email — I’ll happily send you the friends and family code for 50% off. (Dan’s email)

Or if you’re a current subscriber and want to dish a sub as a gift, I’ll send you the code, too!

The NHL and NHLPA did advance the NHL Return on Friday. A 56-game schedule? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

While I have been firmly on the players’ side, Colorado Hockey Now and Adrian Dater explained the other side. The owners…don’t have any money (Colorado Hockey Now)

We brought you the story of Agent Allan Walsh’s fiery tweets against the NHL owners. However, as of Friday, even he thinks there WILL be a season (TSN Radio)

Walsh can be boisterous on Twitter (he was the person who tweeted the photo of the sword going into Marc-Andre Fleury’s back with Pete DeBoer’s name on it), but he’s also a major player on the NHL scene. If he says 99.99%, then we’ll take it.

The players are “ready to roll” if the owners honor the CBA (Philadelphia Inquirer)

When Boston traded Joe Thornton to San Jose, the hockey world gasped. It was 15 years ago this week. Here is an oral history from those involved (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights are OVER the salary cap, and GM Kelly McCrimmon stated Fleury and Robin Lehner would be his goalies. Soooooo, how does Vegas get UNDER the cap? Who goes? (Vegas Hockey Now)