The NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement today that the league will postpone any games that require cross-border travel through the holiday break. The 12 postponed games are as follows:
Canadiens @ Islanders (12/20), Ducks @ Oilers (12/20), Blues @ Senators (12/21), Canucks @ Sharks (12/21), Canadiens @ Rangers (12/22), Jets @ Stars (12/22), Oilers @ Kings (12/22), Blues @ Maple Leafs (12/23), Hurricanes @ Senators (12/23), Canadiens @ Devils (12/23), Ducks @ Canucks (12/23), Oilers @ Sharks (12/23)
Adding on these 12 games, there are now 39 games that the league has postponed this year. As instances pop up of players stuck on the wrong side of the border and potentially unable to get home for the holidays, the pause comes now to prevent any future situations like this from occurring.
However, the NHL and NHLPA in today’s statement remained with their stance today against placing a pause on the entire regular-season schedule. The league will continue to monitor COVID outbreaks on teams on a case-by-case basis, stating that they “will be monitoring not only the number and pattern of positive COVID results but also the depth of Club line-ups so as to ensure both the health and safety of the Players and the integrity of League competition.”
The two parties also gave an update on the potential of Olympic participation, stating they’ll reach a final determination within the coming days. They’re “actively discussing the matter” and commit to remaining flexible. The NHL has until January 10, 2022, to opt out of the Olympics without incurring a financial penalty. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculates that an “Olympics without NHL players seems to be a reality,” but doesn’t expect a formal announcement for a few days.
“Olympics without NHL players seems to be a reality,”… Hopefully, that happens, but there hasn’t been much talk of teams built around AHL-ers, ECHL-ers, etc. in the event the NHL-ers decline the invitation. I would hope those guys would also say “NYET!”, for their own safety and well-being.
No players should be going to the Olympics. Nobody should be going to the Olympics.
As much as we all want NHL players at the Olympics, I honestly think it would be a mistake to move forward with participation.
I’m also concerned about the WJHC in Alberta.
God I hate this!!!
I think we should cancel all games. No games anymore period.
You can then be the moderator of these message boards! That would be easy for you to handle
@stell At least Olympics. Too expensive, too big for their own good. It ends up costing tax payers.
Yeah. Nothing to moderate.
They should not allow players to go to the Olympics. They should make this official this week and move the Olympic break up to now so they could have the two weeks off
Shut everything down for 3 weeks for the Olympic break. Resume season, if possible, on January 10th. Screw the Olympics
No Olympics participation for US & Canada and other countries, All NHL teams should allow all players with break allowing them to use this time to heal and get healthy , limit all team areanas to 50% capacity til a later date , and instutute 3-4 players for taxi squads as previous year to account for any positive test to any players when season starts back up. and use that 3 week period for Olympic break to make up games that have and will be cancelled.
link to youtube.com
Bubble ’em up.
Or, we could just stop testing players for Covid, forget all about it, and move on with normal life.
Yeah, but then players would just have colds like they used to have, and what fear would that cause?! ;)
Just put an end to playing at the CCP Olympics already. Even the sponsors who want this can’t make a good case for them going now.