League Outlines Next Steps For NHL Players

There is still a lot of confusion and uncertainty around the NHL on how long this “pause” will last, what to do in the meantime and how to best stay ready for the return of the season. Today, deputy commissioner Bill Daly released a statement to reporters including Ryan Rishaug of TSN outlining the next steps for players:

The general expectation is that players will remain in their club’s home cities absent unusual circumstances. Obviously, where a player is separated from his family because his club city residence is only temporary at this point, those players should be permitted to go home to their families in this initial phase of the pause period.

We envision there coming a time where we transition direction from “stay at home” to opening club facilities to players to work out and to skate on a voluntary basis in small groups–similar to what we generally see prior to the beginning of team training camps. At this point, I’m not in a position to say when that will be. We will see how the next week or so plays out.

No mandatory testing. If a player exhibits symptoms or becomes sick he will be tested, as appropriate.

We are recommending against informal skates during this initial phase of the pause. Once we move into the next phase and player is “training” for resumption of play, his activities will be subject to the protections afforded in his SPC.

The lack of even informal skates at this point makes sense, but also will delay any return to the ice. Not only will this pause last as long as players, staff and fans are at risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus, but there will also be a period of “ramping up” to make sure that players are ready to return to action. Just like training camp is there to get teams ready for the regular season, a break of this length will need to be followed by a training period before full activity can resume, else injury risk may be increased.