It sounds like Las Vegas and Vancouver are now the latest favorites to be designated as the two hub cities to host the 2020 NHL playoffs.
Sportsnet Radio’s Satiar Shaw was the first to report that Vancouver was now the leading Canadian city to become a hub city. The report was seemingly confirmed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The two Vs — Vancouver/Vegas, maybe. Next two weeks: hub selections, lottery, player vote on protocols/CBA framework. All while we monitor testing results. https://t.co/8xgcHRZJZP
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 20, 2020
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta also claims a source very close to the process believes that both Vancouver and Vegas are the favorites,
Further to both Irf and Satiar’s reports, I’m told by a source very close to the decision process that Vancouver is considered a favourite to become a hub city, along with Las Vegas. The NHL & NHLPA have to agree, of course, and that’s expected to happen in the coming days. https://t.co/JN7XWRBGl6
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 20, 2020
This would place both hub cities in the west, which was previously believed to be an issue for the league. We should no more within the next week or so.
On Friday it was reported that the Canadian federal government made a move to assist one of three Canadian cities to become a hub city for the National Hockey League’s resumption of play.
A Canadian federal official told The Canadian Press on Thursday that the government issued an order in council that would allow one of Vancouver, Edmonton or Toronto to serve as one of the NHL’s two hub cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Jon Sorensen
