The Christmas break is quite a one in the National Hockey League.
Each season, all teams and therefore all NHL players are on break from games, training and travel on December 24, 25 and 26 for Christmas.
There is therefore no action and no activity in the NHL during these three days, in order to give the players time to spend Christmas with their families.
This leave is therefore a mandatory regulation to be respected in the NHL given that it is part of the collective agreement (CBA – Collective Bargaining Agreement), i.e. the basic contract between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.
Normally, all teams unequivocally respect these regulations, but this year, we learned in recent days that Peter DeBoer, the head coach of the Dallas Stars, had held an optional training on December 26.
Indeed, DeBoer himself said this during his Dec. 27 press conference after practice.
This obviously reached the ears of the NHL and the Players Association who therefore opened an investigation into this “illegal” training.
DeBoer, who is an experienced head coach (17 seasons at the head of an NHL team), would therefore have made a mistake.
He himself said that if the NHL investigates this optional training on December 26, he probably made a mistake.
Even if it was only optional training, the regulations are strict that no activity whatsoever can take place during the Christmas break (December 24-25-26).
In the end, DeBoer said the team’s young players showed up to this optional practice like they’re supposed to.
In short, let’s see what happens with this story, while the NHL could very well decide to crack down and fine the Dallas Stars or directly to DeBoer.
This would not be the first time that a fine has been issued to a team, as in 2015, the Philadelphia Flyers received one, and two years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs received $100,000. fine for traveling to Saint-Louis on December 26.
In Burst
– Phew.
– It will clearly be a great three-way fight.
– Please note for tonight’s match starting at 7:30 p.m.
– CF Montreal soon back in action.
– Obviously.
