Report: Hub city talks intensify with Toronto, Edmonton; Vancouver hits setback

Vancouver's NHL hub-city bid has hit a setback after talks with provisional health authorities, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The league hasn't ruled out Vancouver - which has long been seen as a top contender to serve as one of the NHL's two hub cities for its return-to-play plan - but it has commenced more detailed conversations with Toronto and Edmonton, LeBrun adds.

The league's contingency plans for when a player tests positive for COVID-19 is a key concern among provincial and regional health officials, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre.

Toronto recently resubmitted its bid to the league, which featured a plan to create a bubble on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds just outside of the downtown core. Edmonton's reported plan includes an Olympic Village-style setup.

The NHL has said it wants at least one Canadian city to serve as a hub site. With Vegas also in the mix, Chicago and Los Angeles are on standby if none of the Canadian cities end up being viable, LeBrun adds.