The holiday break will last a bit longer

[ckg927]

Per TSN: The NHL will not be back in action until Tuesday(12/28); it's being done to adequately assess the results of league-wide testing results and to assess the teams' readiness to play. However, they will be back to practice on Sunday(12/26)-that has NOT changed.

[ckg927]

And we might get this break extended further; Elliotte Friedman noted that the Leafs/Pens game on Wednesday is likely to be postponed.

[ckg927]

ESPN confirms Friedman's report...and adds that 2 other games have been cancelled: Tuesday(12/28)'s Columbus-Chicago tilt as well as Wednesday(12/29)'s Boston-Ottawa contest.

In addition, the NHL has temporarily reintroduced the taxi squads for all teams until the All Star Game break. Rules:

*The squads will be in place from 12/26 to each team's last game before the ASG break(in Buffalo's case, it's Feb. 1st against the Golden Knights).
*Each team can place as many as 6 players on the taxi squad. No player can spend more than 20 consecutive days on the taxi squad.
*All players on the taxi squad CAN travel & practice with the team, but can only play in a game if recalled and put on the active roster before a game.

There were also tweaks made to the CBA for the time being:

*If a team has fewer than 2 goalies available for a game, it can recall a goalie immediately.
*If a team has few than 12 forwards & 6 defensemen available specifically due to COVID protocols, they can recall as many players as needed to fill the deficit.
*Each team can recall a player pursuant to the Roster Emergency Exemption with an AAV of no more than $1 million.