Report: NHL teams to pay 2020-21 signing bonuses as scheduled

NHL teams are expected to pay players' signing bonuses for the 2020-21 season as scheduled on July 1, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Funds may not actually reach players until next week due to Canada Day on July 1 and Independence Day on July 4, McKenzie notes. He adds that players league-wide are owed more than $300 million in bonus money.

July 1 is the traditional opening of free agency, but the NHL and NHL Players' Association reportedly agreed earlier in June to extend all contracts expiring at the end of the 2019-20 season until Oct. 31 due to the hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Some players are set to collect massive bonuses, the most lucrative of which will go a triumvirate of Toronto Maple Leafs stars. Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner are each owed approximately $15 million.

Other notable players set to cash in are Carey Price ($13 million), Connor McDavid ($13 million), Artemi Panarin ($12 million), and Erik Karlsson ($10 million).