While it has already been discussed that the general managers held a conference call with league officials Saturday about the fluidity that surrounds the COVID-19 crisis, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun (subscription required) notes several other issues that have been discussed or that GMs were made aware of. Much of the conference call dealt with the memo that the NHL sent out to all the teams about what teams should and shouldn’t be doing during the suspension of play. However, there were quite a few other topics of interest:
- So far, there have been no cases of COVID-19 among players yet, although many players have been tested recently and the league still hasn’t gotten those results back. There is a general assumption that some players will eventually test positive. While only a small percentage of the league has been tested, many more players are slowly getting tested, which means how those tests come out will play a big part in both how the league handles letting players enter team facilities and skating or working out in small groups. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that NHL teams have been told that it will be a full week, if not longer, before they can open their facilities for players.
- LeBrun also notes that when things look to be improving (and that might be a while), the NHL expects there to be a mini-camp for teams before play resumes. How the league continues after that depends on the timing of the crisis. If the league gets back into action in 30 days, then there likely will be time to finish out the regular season. A longer suspension of the season would likely result in different scenarios, which could include a cancellation of the regular season and an extended playoff as well. However, the league hasn’t even begun to discuss scenarios.
- Perhaps the worry that most have is whether the league has a drop-dead date in which the league would shut down for the season. The league has watched many other leagues, including most European leagues as well as the ECHL, cancel their seasons, but the league has already asked teams for their building availability through July. That would suggest that the league is ready to continue the playoffs into July. However, LeBrun believes that commissioner Gary Bettman has a drop-dead date in mind if things get out of hand. Any later in July would create other issues, which include what will happen with the 2002 Olympic Games. If the Olympics continue in August, then the NHL must decide whether they want to put their playoffs up against that. Regardless, the belief is that a decision on the season will be made by the end of April.
what’s the issue with the Olympics and playoffs overlapping? its summer this year, not winter.
Hopefully with all the chaos with this virus , stations like NBCSN and NHL Network and Nhl Center Ice can pick up some of the playoff games in order to give a hand in bringing us the playoffs, for the coverage of Olympics..
End the season and give the cup to the team with the most points, oh it’s my team.
Starting up again in the summer makes no sense. No cup this year. Although my team would have won it all.
seems silly to cut things off because playing at a certain time of year makes “no sense.” and what about it exactly makes no sense given the situation?
What happened with the 2002 Olympics was Mario led Canada to a gold.