The NHL and NHLPA are making progress on agreeing to a 24-team format for the potential resumption of the 2019-20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
According to LeBrun, the Return To Play Committee talked throughout the weekend, with more talks expected over the next few days.
The potential return outlined above wouldn't necessarily mean the immediate start of the playoffs. And with the exact format of the 24-team plan still not agreed upon, it remains unclear whether any potential return would include the Rangers.
New York, with 79 points (good for 10th in the Eastern Conference and tied for 16th overall in the NHL), was two points back of the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets for the Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.
If the NHL resumes with a 24-team format, the Rangers appear to have a very strong case for inclusion. However, under a scenario where only the top six teams in each division play in the 24-team format, the Rangers would be left out in the cold due to the strength of the Metropolitan Division and relative weakness of the other divisions.