NHL Extends Isolation Period To April 15

Another week down, another week added. Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that the league has extended its recommended period of self-isolation for players and staff until April 15, just a week after extending it to April 6. The initial recommendation had been until March 27, though obviously that went out the window quickly after seeing the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the continent.

This recommendation is for league activities, but there are other states and cities that have recommended isolation for even longer. It is not clear how players or facilities in those areas would resume normal activity even after April 15 has passed.

There have been four confirmed cases of COVID-19 among NHL players to this point, two from the Ottawa Senators and two from the Colorado Avalanche. All other players have been told to self-isolate and the league has shutdown all practices, facilities and even informal team workouts. The NHL Awards, Draft and Combine were all postponed indefinitely, leaving the league timeline completely uncertain.

Obviously at this point there is no word on when the league will be able to resume, if at all. The NHL has asked for building dates into August and there has been speculation about potential September playoffs. The league has maintained through everything that they will do everything in their power to hold a full 82-game schedule for the 2020-21 season, but for this season things are still being pushed back.