With two different leagues, the NHL and NBA, looking into neutral sites to finish out their 2019-20 seasons, Las Vegas looks to be at the top of the list. MGM Resorts have reportedly shown interest, offering to host either league in the city. However, Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reports that Vegas has become the source of a turf battle between the two leagues as the main neutral site for the playoffs.
The NHL might have the advantage, however, considering that the Golden Knights are well established in the city, while there is no NBA team. The NBA is also considering Disney World as a potential site.
- While talk of an early June draft has quieted somewhat in the last week, that doesn’t mean the idea is dead. According to The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy, an NHL general manager told him that the league has been consistently telling teams that they will have at least one month’s notice before the draft, meaning that the original projected date of June 5 isn’t going to happen. The earliest the league could put a draft together would be mid-June. Of course, with many general managers resisting an early draft, it remains completely up in the air, meaning it could happen soon or in the October/November time frame.
- In his most recent mailbag series, the Denver Post’s Mike Chambers warns fans not to get too excited about the UFA free agent market and the fact that Colorado should have plenty of money to spend. With two star players potentially available in winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, many have felt that Colorado might add a star to push themselves to the top of the Central Division. However, Chambers said the team is not interested in either player and is more interested in continuing to build its team from within. The team is happy with its top-six and with Cale Makar and Erik Johnson on the right side, as well as the fact that prospect Conor Timmins is close to NHL ready, there isn’t any room for Pietrangelo either.
- Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre writes that the Vancouver Canucks are likely to lose Judd Brackett, the team’s director of amateur scouting when his contract is up at the end of June. Brackett has been a key figure in Vancouver since he was promoted to the position back in 2015 and has been a key piece in rebuilding the franchise. However Elliotte Friedman recently reported on 650 radio in Vancouver that the two sides are likely to break ties after he rejected an extension offer recently. “Judd Brackett and the Vancouver Canucks clearly are not comfortable with each other. For whatever reason, the organization is not comfortable with him, and he is not comfortable with them. I think everybody can see that at this point in time,” Friedman said. MacIntyre also notes that the impasse between the two teams has nothing to do with pay or job title, but more likely because despite drafting well the last few years with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, the team shook up the scouting department last offseason, firing four of his scouts.
With the league trying to resume at neutral (COVID-safe) sites, me thinks NHL brass has forgotten a possible wrinkle to their plans: If the NHL is cleared to go into city “X”, John & Jane Q. Public will also be cleared. Therefore, problem not solved. Unless, NHLers walk around in hazmat suits that are sterilized twice a day. Or, John & Jane Q. Public will be illegally restricted from the areas, at which point stink-fests will erupt by the thousands. Can’t see a clean resolution to this…probably means my cataracts are in the way again…
What are you talking about, “illegally restricted?”
If some political dumb-asses try to prevent John & Jane Q. Public from access to hotels that are “reserved” for sports teams, it would be really bad optics. Usually, a team visiting a city takes a portion of a hotel’s rooms, not the whole nine yards. The NHL or any other league wouldn’t be able to prevent the general public from enjoying the hotel, but a political entity might be stupid enough to try to prevent them. It could come across as a form of illegal Martial Law. Unless a hotel is not too large and can be “chartered” for the teams (like planes are), then it would be OK(ish). Since it would only be until the end of the season, it could be seen as the same type of inconvenience as scheduling a vacation in a city where multiple Knitting Conventions are taking place and your only hotel accommodations are 20 miles away because all of the good stuff is booked. In the past two months, we’ve seen a lot of stupid stuff all over the planet due to this stinkin’ pandemic. I’m not saying it will happen, but there are idiots all over showing callous disregard for the quarantine directives by health agencies. That probably doesn’t help clarify things, but just exposes a possible (and hopefully, slight) scenario.
The hotel themselves would do the closing to the general public.
When you call for reservations, it’s sold out.
Doors stay locked, with security stationed at doors.
Mandalay Bay could absolutely house the NBA, all by themselves. The WNBA plays there, so they have an arena on site. Plenty of restaurants etc. hotel is large enough to house the entire league in one hotel. Essentially one team per floor.
Players would essentially be quarantined as an NBA group in the one hotel with some staff of the hotel to take care of the needs and necessities.
So even if the city is re-open Mandalay could still be off limits (I would include 4 Seasons and Delano with that since they are connected.)
NHL is a little tougher but not impossible. Same scenario with NYNY and/or MGM. Close enough to TMobile (especially NYNY). Difference is it’s not connected to the hotel like the arena the WNBA plays at.
@vegasloveforthebills – Yeah, that’s basically the point I was trying to make, but you can see how it *could* get sideways a bit, if some dope tried to draw artificial boundaries. Igor Larionov was describing the basic form of Martial Law that has been implemented in many parts of Russia. You pretty much need a permission slip to be out for necessities.
Right on. I understand The concern and the thought process. But after watching this past two months, I realize casinos can keep people out if they need to.
And if they need the booster security staff to get more hands on deck, there will be departments in the hotel that Won’t be as needed, but after being laid off for two months they will want to work so you can pull them from there
@vegasloveforthebills – I think we can all agree it’s still going to be chaotic. Unfortunately, my local health department says they fully expect a resurgence in the fall/winter, so there is a chance of only a temporary respite from the mess. I’d really like to get back to enjoying multiple games a day, EVERY day, if you know what I mean!
Don’t want Hall. He’s got off ice issues. I’d rather add complimentary pieces and build off of what we have and invest in keeping everyone. We have a lot of potential at goalie. Not this offseason, but maybe invest more at goalie if one of our current guys doesn’t snatch the role for himself.
Fackers
GMs want to delay draft but time is limited if they do and if the CHL starts up before NHL finishes playoffs those same GMs will want even more time to re-evaluate and update draft lists.
Last month teams were ready to draft in late June and nothing has changed. Nobody has played. Put 24 teams in the playoffs and the other 7 in the lottery and draft.