NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he expects the NHL's teams in Canada to be able to play home games this season.

"On the basis of our discussions [with provincial health authorities] in the past week, as well as our exchange of correspondence over the last 24 hours, we believe we are aligned and in agreement on the conditions on which each of our Canadian franchises can begin play in their own buildings for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season," Daly said in a statement Thursday.

The NHL told its seven Canadian-based teams Thursday that there is a possibility they will have to play in the United States this season due to roadblocks with Canadian health authorities, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Alexander Steen, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, has announced his retirement due to a back injury suffered last season.

Steen ends a 15-year NHL career that began with the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended with over 11 seasons in St. Louis, including the title-winning run in 2019.