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The NHL and NHL Players’ Association met Thursday to discuss the potential 24-team playoff format should the paused 2019-20 season resume.
Voting reportedly was “likely to be completed” by Friday.
While we still don’t have a clear answer if the NHLPA denied or approved the proposal, TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Friday reported it is “expected” to be approved. McKenzie noted Thursday’s call “got a little heated at times,” but “the exec committee vote by team is expected to result in NHLPA approval of the NHL plan.”

While last night’s NHLPA executive committee conference call got a little heated at times, and various individual players still have a wide variety of views on the NHL’s RTP format, the exec committee vote by team is expected to result in NHLPA approval of the NHL plan.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 22, 2020

We are not, however, expecting that format announcement to come with any timetable or critical date roll-out, not yet anyway.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 22, 2020

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun also added some details regarding the matter:

Keep in mind, even once the NHL has an answer from the NHLPA on the Return to Play format, the league has its own “process”to go through, but the expectation is that an official announcement would come within a couple of days
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 22, 2020

It’s now just a matter of time to see the NHLPA’s final decision and how the league responds to get things going in order to try to salvage the season and crown a Stanley Cup champion.
More NHL: League Reportedly Considering These Hub Cities For Proposed Plan To Return

The Boston Celtics still haven’t been able to open their facilities due to Massachusetts regulations, and a few other teams in markets hit hard by the coronavirus are in the same boat.
Meanwhile, players around the country are getting back into their buildings for voluntary workouts, and the NBA is hoping to have teams practicing again in June for games to start by mid-July.
That’s why Boston, among teams like the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors, reportedly are hoping to bypass their market cities all together and report right to which ever venue the NBA choses to host its return.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, teams expressed concern on Thursday’s General Manager’s call, and the NBA plans to work with them.
“Most teams in regions still adhering to stay-at-home policies amid the coronavirus pandemic have an abundance of players who left the marketplace during the shutdown and would need to quarantine for an extended period — perhaps as many as 14 days — prior to joining workouts in team facilities,” Wojnarowski reorted. “Teams want to avoid having to quarantine significant portions of their rosters twice — once upon returning to more restrictive markets, and again, at the bubble site.”
It makes a lot of sense, but the thought of the TD Garden and Auerbach Centers not opening up for basketball again this spring is pretty sad.
More NBA: The internet had fun with a photo of Rockets’ James Harden while he was hiking

The Seahawks reportedly have bolstered their offense.
Seattle and running back Carlos Hyde agreed to a one-year deal Friday, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

The #Seahawks are signing RB Carlos Hyde, sources tell @RapSheet and me.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 22, 2020

Hyde ran for a career-best 1,070 yards last season with the Houston Texans. He also amassed six touchdowns and played in all 16 games.
The 29-year-old boosts the Seahawks’ backfield, especially considering both Rashaad Penny (ACL) and Chris Carson (hip) will be coming off season-ending injuries. Carson is expected to be ready for Week 1, while Penny may start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
This will be Hyde’s fifth team since the 2017 season.
More NFL: Russell Wilson Reportedly ‘Would Love’ Seahawks To Add Antonio Brown

Could Antonio Brown find a new home for the 2020 season?
The talented, albeit troubled, wide receiver was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the then-Oakland Raiders prior to the 2019 season. You probably remember the frostbite incident, followed by some odd behavior of releasing private conversations with Jon Gruden before ultimately asking for — and being granted — a release.
Brown landed with the Patriots for 11 days before New England released him.
Sexual assault allegations and charges followed the wideout and did not play for another team after his time with the Pats.
But according to ESPN 710 Seattle’s John Clayton, Russell Wilson “would love” for the Seattle Seahawks to sign him.
“According to sources, Wilson would love to add Antonio Brown. Brown is also close with backup QB Geno Smith, whose one-year contract with the Seahawks was finalized Wednesday,” Clayton wrote.
If signed — whether it’s to the Seahawks or another team — Brown could be facing a suspension from the NFL due to his sexual assault charges and assault charge. His talent is undeniable, and it will be interesting to see if Seattle or someone else takes that chance.
More NFL: Joe Flacco Enters AFC East, Agrees With Jets On One-Year Contract

Gordon Hayward only was a rookie during Jerry Sloan’s final season as coach of the Utah Jazz. But he clearly left an impact on the Boston Celtics forward.
Sloan died Friday at the age of 78.
Hayward was just one of many NBA players to react to the death of the Hall of Fame coach. And he took to Instagram on Friday to pay his respects and remember Sloan.
“I didn’t get to spend a lot of time playing for Coach Sloan, but coming in as a rookie he had a major impact on my transition to the @NBA. I’m grateful for that. Prayers to his family, friends and loved ones. May he Rest In Peace,” he captioned the photo.

View this post on Instagram

I didn't get to spend a lot of time playing for Coach Sloan, but coming in as a rookie he had a major impact on my transition to the @NBA. I'm grateful for that. Prayers to his family, friends and loved ones. May he Rest In Peace.
A post shared by Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) on May 22, 2020 at 10:10am PDT

Sloan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
More NBA: Nets Reportedly Exploring Trade For Wizards Star Bradley Beal

It’s time to put your growing knowledge of German soccer to good use.
Round 27 of the restarted 2019-20 Bundesliga season is underway, with Hertha Berlin Vs. Union Berlin Live in the books and an exciting slate of matchups to come over the rest of the weekend. Borussia Monchengladbach will play Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg will meet Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich will take on Eintracht Frankfurt are Saturday’s marquee games. Sunday’s Bundesliga contests include Schalke versus Augsburg, Mainz versus Red Bull Leipzig and Cologne versus Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Viewers at have a stake in the action, too, thanks to NESN Games, as they can pick each game’s winner or opt for a draw. The winner of our “Bundesliga Pick 6” contest will win a $25 online gift code to the ’47 online store going to the victor.
Click here to play NESN Games’ golf challenge for “The Match”

The NFL is set to begin its 2020 season Sept. 10. And even though that’s still four months away, one NFL team is taking precautions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday announced they would be selling just 50 percent of their tickets for home games.
“We are holding back 50 percent of the individual game ticket sales inventory because we are preparing for possible social distancing scenarios this year at Heinz Field,” Steelers PR director Burt Lauten said, via MassLive’s Chris Mason.
Pittsburgh, so far, is the only known team to put restrictions on ticket sales.
There’s no telling what the pandemic will look like in September, or if the league as a whole will need to take similar precautions. Of course, there’s still a possibility games will begin without fans.
Only time will tell.
More NFL: Joe Flacco Enters AFC East, Signs With Jets On One-Year Contract

Quarterback Joe Flacco is joining the AFC East.
The Super Bowl XLVII MVP on Friday signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by Flacco’s representation’s official Twitter account.
Schefter reported the deal to be worth $1.5 million with incentives that could bring the salary up to $4.5 million. When Flacco is rehabbed from the neck procedure he underwent in May, he’ll compete for rank on the depth chart behind Sam Darnold, who enters his third season in the league.
 

Joe Flacco’s 1-year deal with the Jets is worth $1.5 million that with incentives can bring it to $4.5 million, per source. https://t.co/VDrmdz4yfM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2020

Congratulations to client @JoeFlacco on agreeing to terms on a 1 year deal with the New York Jets
— JL Sports (@JLSports3) May 22, 2020

Jets’ head coach Adam Gase had hoped to land Flacco earlier in the week, but the free agent was taking his time to talk to other teams pursuing him. Schefter says the decision wasn’t made by the signal caller until the day of signing.
With the Denver Broncos last season, the 35-year-old had six touchdowns and five interceptions, completing just over 65 percent of his passes for 1,822 yards before being put on injury reserve following his injury n Week 8 of the 2019 season. Denver released him on March 19.
Flacco getting cleared to return to play was anticipated to line up with the return of the 2020 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic perhaps bought him a little more time.
More NFL: Bucs Center Ryan Jensen Sheds Light On First Workout With Tom Brady

NESN PROGRAMMING UPDATE:
MAY 22 – May 31
NESN’s upcoming week of programming initiatives will include daily iconic Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins games and daily programming of “NESN After Hours,” “Dining Playbook” and “Charlie Moore Outdoors.”
NESN announced the production of an hour-long special titled “Chara at 1000, presented by buyatoyota.com,” honoring Zdeno Chara’s milestone 1,000 games with the Bruins this week to premiere at 7 p.m. ET on May 31. To watch the trailer and exclusive extras from the show, visit NESN.com/Chara1000 and follow @NESN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This Saturday NESN will air the first “Fans’ Choice” game, featuring Patrick from South Portland, Maine’s favorite Red Sox game from April 8, 2018 vs. Tampa Bay. Patrick proposed to his now wife prior to the game overlooking the Citgo sign and enjoyed a Celtics game and two Red Sox games (including the April 8th contest) that weekend to celebrate the occasion. Watch Jerry Remy’s message to Patrick and his wife! Fans still have the opportunity to program the network with their favorite game by submitting their story at NESN.com/FansChoice.
Bruins:
Bruins Classics — Best of Bruins-Maple Leafs presented by Amica’s Coverage Cam: At 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights the final games of the Bruins-Maple Leafs rivalry week will finish up. The schedule is as follows:
Fri., May 22
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs (from Dec. 8, 2018)
Sat., May 23
Bruins vs. Leafs, Eastern Conference quarterfinals Game 7 (from April 23, 2019)
<a href="https://nesn.com/2020/05/bruins-trent-frederic-joins-after-hours-to-discuss-zdeno-chara-quarantine/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>More: Bruins’ Trent Frederic Joins ‘NESN After Hours’ To Discuss Chara, Quarantine
Bruins Classics — Best of Zdeno Chara: catch a full week of Chara’s best performances at 6 p.m. next week — a week that will culminate in the premiere of “Chara at 1000, presented by buyatoyota.com” on Sunday at 7 p.m. The week’s schedule is as follows:
Mon., May 25
Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes (from Feb. 3, 2007)
Tues., May 26
Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (from March 31, 2009)
Wed., May 27
Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes (from Jan. 17, 2011)
Thurs., May 28
Bruins at Los Angeles Kings (from March 24, 2012)
Fri., May 29
Bruins vs. Florida Panthers (from March 23, 2019)
Sat., May 30
Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (from April 17, 2019)
The 1970 Bruins: Big, Bad, and Bobby: At 8 p.m. on Sunday, NESN will air the NHL Network’s show highlighting the historic team’s accomplishments. The 2011 Bruins Stanley Cup Championship film will prelude the “Big, Bad and Bobby” show at 6:30 p.m. to round out a full Sunday night of Bruins content.
“Chara at 1000, presented by buyatoyota.com:” An hour-long special honoring Zdeno Chara’s milestone 1,000 games with the Bruins will premier at 7 p.m. ET on May 31 . The centerpiece of the special will feature a sit-down interview with NESN play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards and Chara. Interviews have been compiled with a host of current and former teammates, coaches and front office personnel plus an array of current league captains such as Connor McDavid, Gabriel Landeskog and Alex Ovechkin.
Red Sox:
Red Sox Classics — Best Pitching Performances presented by Amica’s Pitch Zone: Red Sox programming will finish up at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The schedule is as follows:
Fri., May 22
Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals — Jon Lester (from May 19, 2008)
Sat., May 23
Red Sox vs. Yankees – Rick Porcello (from Aug. 3, 2018)
Red Sox 2007 Postseason Encores: Next week marks the start of the 2007 postseason run. NESN will air the iconic playoff wins in chronological order at 8 p.m. between Monday and Saturday. The next week of programming is as follows:
Mon., May 25
2007 ALDS Game 1: Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
Tues., May 26
2007 ALDS Game 2: Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
Wed., May 27
2007 ALDS Game 3: Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels
Thurs., May 28
2007 ALCS Game 1: Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians
Fri., May 29
2007 ALCS Game 5: Red Sox at Cleveland Indians
Sat., May 30
2007 ALCS Game 6: Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians
My Story Podcasts: Next week’s debut episode of “My Story” in podcast form will be the final Red Sox episode featuring Xander Bogaerts and will be released Tuesday, May 26. To listen to the Michael Chavis, Matt Barnes, Jackie Bradley Jr., Eduardo Rodriguez, Dustin Pedroia, Andrew Benintendi and JD Martinez episodes from prior weeks, visit NESN.com/podcast, iTunes or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.
NESN Fans’ Choice
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, NESN will air the first “Fans’ Choice” game, featuring Patrick from South Portland, Maine’s favorite Red Sox game from April 8, 2018 vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. Patrick proposed to his now wife prior to the game overlooking the Citgo sign and enjoyed a Celtics game and two Red Sox games (including the April 8th game) that weekend to celebrate the occasion.
Fans still can enter their favorite game and memories at NESN.com/FansChoice for a chance to see it hit the NESN air this month.
NESN After Hours:
NESN’s nightly news program, “NESN After Hours, presented by People’s United Bank,” next week will begin to air for an hour at 10 p.m. nightly between Monday and Sunday. In addition, the “At Home with TC” show now will be integrated into the “NESN After Hours” show with regular segments featuring TC’s unique and engaging interview style with athletes, celebrities and sports newsmakers.
In addition, NESN is introducing a weekly “NESN After Hours” podcast, featuring hosts Cealey Godwin and Emerson Lotzia. To listen to the weekly podcast released every Monday visit NESN.com/podcast, iTunes or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.
Dining Playbook:
NESN will air “Dining Playbook” at 9 a.m. daily between Monday and Saturday with hosts Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa.
9 a.m. Saturday will be an all-new show, featuring “Chef Ron,” Fenway Park’s Executive Chef, plus local organization Heading Home and their meal-packing initiatives that help those without access to food during this time. Follow @DiningPlaybook for daily cooking inspiration on Instagram featuring local restaurants and chefs.
Connecticut Sun:
NESN will continue “Connecticut SUNdays” this weekend with a matchup featuring the Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury from July 12, 2019.
At 4 p.m. next Sunday, May 24, NESN will air the Sun vs. Chicago Sky from July 30, 2019.
Charlie Moore Outdoors:
At 11 p.m. nightly between Monday and Friday, “Charlie Moore Outdoors” will run. In addition, At 6 p.m. on Sunday, NESN will re-air the episode featuring former Bruin Tim Thomas prior to the 6:30 p.m. airing of the 2011 Bruins Stanley Cup Championship film.
All schedules are subject to change. For updates to the schedule and new information, follow @NESNPR.
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