Headlines

  • Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson
  • Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev
  • Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7
  • Ken Holland Accepts Kings GM Position
  • Nicklas Bäckström To Attempt Resuming Playing Career In Sweden
  • Golden Knights, Jack Eichel Have Had Preliminary Extension Talks
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

NHL Players Grappling With Monday’s Opt-Out Deadline

July 8, 2020 at 12:29 pm CDT | by TC Zencka 6 Comments

NHL players will have three extra days to decide whether or not to play in the 24-team playoff that begins on August 1, per Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now. Anyone opting out will have to do so before Monday night.

But don’t expect a whole host of skaters to sit this one out, writes The Athletic’s Scott Burnside. Families being allowed into hub cities starting with the conference championships have allayed some concerns, but there are still players with pregnant wives and pre-existing conditions who must think twice before putting themselves at risk.

One general manager, speaking anonymously, posited that there was a good chunk of NHL players who do not prefer to return to play under these conditions, per Burnside. This is a refrain we’ve heard numerous times in recent weeks, but always anonymously. That fact alone speaks to the complicated cultural hurdles facing the NHL. The option of opting out is always couched in this idea that NHL’s culture of toughness won’t allow for abstainers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, for one, don’t expect anyone to opt-out, but that doesn’t mean it’s an automatic call, writes The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. Portzline spells out the dilemma facing Nick Foligno to give a sense of the types of decisions players are dealing with: “He’s the Blue Jackets’ captain, so he has an enormous responsibility within the dressing room. But he’s also the father of a child with a pre-existing condition. His daughter, Milana, was born with a congenital heart defect and has had multiple surgeries. That makes her more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.”

The league itself does not require players to cite any specific reason for opting out. Given the culture of the NHL, however, it seems that any player who makes that choice will be scrutinized. And yet, that’s not the same as being stigmatized – and that’s an important distinction. There’s a lot of understanding in the league right now, and given the absolute dangers of COVID-19, players and coaches alike realize that the decision to play – or not to play – is deeply personal.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Columbus Blue Jackets| Coronavirus| NHL| NHLPA| Players Nick Foligno

Minnesota Wild Prospect Alex Khovanov Heading To KHL
Main
Chris Pronger Leaves Front Office Role With Florida Panthers
View Comments (6)

Comments

  1. MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

    5 years ago

    I do not envy the situation that Nicky Foligno or any other player who has a similar choice to make. Any of his fellow NHLPA-ers that choose to opt-out due to legit health concerns for themselves or their families should receive absolutely NO crap from any other player for their decision. The reason for going with a simple majority on these types of votes is for easy passing of the subject. It also often leads to increased disgruntlement and worse. Conversely, if a 2/3 or 3/4 majority was required, many things might never get passed. This may be one of the toughest choices these guys have to make (so far) in their playing careers. More players might very well be in favor of opt-out, if they had direct knowledge of friends or acquaintances that had been hospitalized with this junk. Because most don’t, they have a more cavalier attitude about it. I hope for their sake they don’t end up as true positive tests with a lengthy hospital stay. That will end up as a “Welcome to Sobering Reality, Pal!”

    Reply
    • JtS12

      5 years ago

      Might be one of the tougher choices of their entire lives, let alone their playing careers. I hope they all do what’s best for each of them induvidually.

      Reply
    • itsmeheyhi

      5 years ago

      anyone who criticizes a player for opting out has serious issues

      Reply
  2. Gbear

    5 years ago

    I consider an opt out from my job every weekend……then I look at my bills and opt back in. :/

    If enough players don’t want to come back, that’s their right to do so, but they shouldn’t expect to get paid anymore of their contracts either. The people maintaining the rink won’t get paid if they decide to sit this out, that’s for sure.

    Reply
    • jdgoat

      5 years ago

      Luckily for them they’ve already received 85-90% of their salaries.

      Reply
  3. Milk

    5 years ago

    Don’t be surprised if not a single player opts out.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson

    Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev

    Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7

    Ken Holland Accepts Kings GM Position

    Nicklas Bäckström To Attempt Resuming Playing Career In Sweden

    Golden Knights, Jack Eichel Have Had Preliminary Extension Talks

    Wild Sign Danila Yurov To Entry-Level Contract

    Johnston: “Zero Reason” To Believe Mitch Marner Signs Extension With Maple Leafs

    Brad Shaw Won’t Return To Flyers

    Full 2025 NHL Draft Order

    Recent

    Lightning Sign Harrison Meneghin To Entry-Level Contract

    Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson

    Offseason Checklist: Detroit Red Wings

    Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev

    Snapshots: Blashill, Braun, Misa, Niederreiter

    What The Senators Must Do To Become Stanley Cup Contenders

    Bruins Sign Simon Zajicek To Entry-Level Contract

    Maple Leafs Notes: Marner, Tavares, Berube, Game 7 Offense

    Goaltending Questions Loom For The Penguins

    Jets’ Morrissey Injury “Not Good,” Says Coach Scott Arniel

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Brock Boeser Rumors
    • Scott Laughton Rumors
    • Brock Nelson Rumors
    • Rickard Rakell Rumors
    • Mikko Rantanen Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2024-25 Salary Cap Deep Dive Series
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Primers
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Arbitration-Eligible Free Agents 2025
    • Draft Order 2025
    • Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version