BHN Puck Links: NHL Return, Blues Eyeing Mike Hoffman

Santa Claus came early for NHL fans as the NHL and NHLPA reached a tentative agreement on an NHL return set for January 13!

The NHLPA has already approved the format they agreed upon with the league and now the NHL Board of Governors will have to do the same when they vote yay or nay on Sunday. There’s plenty of work still to be done even if, as expected, the owners say yes. Still to be determined is what happens with the Canadian teams and an assortment of protocols and travel arrangements.

Will the Bruins, as currently constituted, be ready to go and challenge for the Stanley Cup? If they don’t think so and decide to pursue the likes of UFA forward Mike Hoffman, the team that won the 2019 Stanley Cup on TD Garden ice will be trying to outbid them for Hoffman’s services.

That and more in your latest Boston Hockey Now Puck Links!

Hallelujah! 

Let’s drop the puck! The boys of winter should be back playing less than a month from now and we’ve got the developing details of the tentative agreement for the 2021 NHL Return. To say this puck scribe is excited would be an understatement. As it has for so many, times have been tough here but thanks to you BHN readers and followers we’ve survived to this point. Now let’s write about actual hockey! (Boston Hockey Now)

One of the biggest problems left to solve will be what to do with the seven Canadian teams. Will they play in an Edmonton bubble for the first month or so or could they be forced to move to the United States for the season? Could the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins actually share the same arena? (TSN)

With COVID still raging, the NHL will need to abide by strict travel protocols for the NHL Return. (TSN)

What will the NHL quarantine process look like in the NHL Return? What happens if a player or multiple players on one team test positive? (Sportsnet)

As we warned you here in BHN Puck Links two days ago, the St. Louis Blues are about to gain upwards of $12 million in salary cap space. Friend of Murph and BHN, Andy Strickland says the team that skated around TD Garden ice with the Stanley Cup two seasons ago, could sign one of the Boston Bruins’ free agent targets. (Andy Strickland)

Finally, with Christmas less than a week away, the Boston Bruins made sure that even with COVID still raging, they kept arguably their most important tradition alive and made Christmas great once again for the kids that really need it! (BostonBruins.com)

There’s a big college football game taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina today and there’s just one thing this longtime Notre Dame fan has to say: Go Irish! Beat Clemson!