Sunday: The league announced that as a result of another Canucks player being place on the COVID protocol list, the Vancouver Canucks’ facilities will not re-open Sunday as had been planned. The league announced the facility will not re-open until Monday at the earliest.
While the name of the new player has yet to be revealed, the announcement states the player has not been around the facility since the outbreak began on March 31. Regardless, it was decided that the team should keep their facility closed for at least one extra day. The decision should not impact the Canucks’ return to play on Friday.
Saturday: Pending today’s coronavirus test results, the Vancouver Canucks are scheduled to re-open their practice facilities tomorrow. The league currently expects the team to resume their regular season schedule on Friday, April 16 against the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks had eight games postponed during their coronavirus outbreak; those games have now been rescheduled, with Vancouver’s season now stretching through May 16, a week after the regular season was originally expected to end.
The league has announced the following changes to the North Division schedule:
- Game #829, Edmonton at Vancouver, scheduled for May 4, is now scheduled for Friday, April 16 at 9 p.m. ET
- Game #567, Calgary at Vancouver, scheduled for March 31, is now scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at 10 p.m. ET
- Game #792, Vancouver at Toronto, scheduled for April 30, is now scheduled for Thursday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Game #647, Vancouver at Calgary, scheduled for April 10, is now scheduled for Monday, May 3 at 9 p.m. ET
- Game #593, Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 3, is now scheduled for Tuesday, May 4 at 9 p.m. ET
- Game #662, Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 12, is now scheduled for Saturday, May 8 at 10 p.m. ET
- Game #720, Ottawa at Calgary, scheduled for April 20, is now scheduled for Sunday, May 9 at 8 p.m. ET
- Game #602, Vancouver at Winnipeg, scheduled for April 4, is now scheduled for Monday, May 10 at 8 p.m. ET
- Game #619, Vancouver at Winnipeg, scheduled for April 6, is now scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 at 8 p.m. ET
- Game #833, Toronto at Ottawa, scheduled for May 10, is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Game #673, Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 14, is now scheduled for Thursday, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET
- Game #864, Calgary at Vancouver, scheduled for May 8, is now scheduled for Saturday, May 15 at TBD
- Game #634, Vancouver at Calgary, scheduled for April 8, is now scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at TBD
The league will not announce definitive dates for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs until later in the season, and admit that the first round for the East, Central and West could open a few days earlier than the North now that things have been pushed.
I suppose they are free to participate in the trade season that is set to close Monday. Question is how many teams will remain uncomfortable sending players there or acquiring players from a squad that has a lot of health and conditioning and safety questions all around. Technically they still have a chance at playoffs but would be minor miracle for them to make that push. And how can teams judge acquiring players that have been out for so long?
Vancouver doesn’t have a lot of tradable assets anyway.
It is encouraging news for the league also for the players who have been dealing with this s**t…
Wonder if other teams are having any thoughts about not playing them with there Covid situation
Every player on the team will have been in isolation for at least 2 weeks by the time any opponent would play against them.
Why bother? This team ain’t doing anything this season.