PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: An overall view of the arena is shown prior to the start of this afternoon's game featuring the Philadelphia Flyers against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
The majority of hockey enthusiasts throughout the World are hoping for the season to reconvene at some point. Talks throughout the league continue to ensue weekly, with the NHLPA and NHL working together, hand-in-hand to see that this happens. Well, a historic vote today by the NHLPA Board of Governors (BOG) now sets the balls in motion for hockey to return at some point, per Bob McKenzie. The NHLPA BOG has voted yes to a 24 team playoff format, that consists of the top 4 teams in each conference to play each other for seeding purposes in a three game round robin, followed by the 8 extra teams (Making 24 teams total) would play a best of five series with the winners of course advancing to a 16 team play-in playoffs.
This does not mean that hockey has returned YET!!! However, this is every indication that the NHL is serious in returning in July-early August. This historic vote by the NHLPA BOG lays the groundwork for other logistics to follow for hockey to reconvene as planned. Some questions still remain like bubble life, hub cities, and testing of course.
Testing
“Nobody comes to the stadium. Put [the players] in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled…Have them tested every single week and make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family, and just let them play the season out,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told Peter Hamby. Fauci just happens to be the nation’s top infectious disease expert in the United States.
To clarify all players who are willing to participate would be tested for COVID-19, and be quarantined a few weeks before the season were to begin, with a small training camp of some sort to ensue. Of course, these players would not be able to leave this neutral site, they would be quarantined together with no outside contact (To include no spectators). How many times a week are the players tested? No one knows, it’s all specualtion at this point. Moreover, 30 minute Covid-19 tests are being made available now, so a possibility of sports reconvening without spectators is becoming more of a possibility.
The only question that remains is if the NHL can find an adequate supplier for the Covid tests. Suppliers of the tests are now being utilized and prioritized for hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons throughout the United States for that matter. Would there be enough tests to use for approximately 700 players, broadcasters, media, trainers, security, and other staff members. This is a great question that I do not have an answer to right now.
Bubble Life
The hope is for the season to reconvene at some point in July, or even in August believe it or not. However, this was met with some concerns from some players this week again. Some players right now are concerned about the “Bubble Life” they would be living in, like Minnesota Wild’s Devan Dubnyk and Montreal Canadiens Phillip Danault, according to the Sporting News.
“There’s a bunch of different formats being talked about,” Flyers Forward JVR said who happens to be on the return to play committee, “It’s hard to really say what the leader is just because things can change. Nothing’s really certain until it’s certain. Things can change so quickly and they have on different things, things that were looked at early on, without getting into too much detail, are beyond feasible now. There’s different things that can change, so it’s hard to say that there’s a real leader. We’re trying to keep as many options open and navigate through different things and hopefully come up with a vision that obviously first and foremost ensures the health and safety of everyone. Then from there, it’s trying to find one that keeps the integrity and competitiveness that’s so great about our game and so great about the Stanley Cup.”
One topic of discussion from the Board of Governors in the NHL has been neutral sites, and four phases. There has been some talk for neutral sites possibly being in Edmonton, or Las Vegas. This is one way that hockey could reconvene in July or August. The NHL is hoping to move into phase two by the the end of May at the earliest, or sometime in June at the latest (Re-opening of facilities), depending on the virus and states of course.
Hub Cities
There has been much speculation for weeks, as to what cities would be hub cities when hockey returns. Talks yesterday were that Edmonton put forth a heck of a proposal for the NHL to think about in regards to being a host city, Vegas you’re on the clock:
In the end, if the 24 team playoff format is approved, the Flyers would have a bye in the first round, however, would partake in a three game round robin with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. This would give all these teams the opportunity to get in “Game shape” for the grueling playoffs that lie ahead.
The Flyers would instantly be Cup contenders, yes not just contenders, but Cup contenders. Some may not agree with this format for hockey to reconvene, but in the end Flyers fans will be cheering their team from their couches or chairs to hopefully bring the Lord Stanley’s Cup back home to Philadelphia where it belongs.
The 24 team playoff format is gaining momentum, and it appears to be the most logical way for the season to ensue. It would also give people around the World hope, and a sense of normalcy. At the end of the day dollars and cents matter in sports, but so does the health of players, coaches, trainers, broadcasters, and media, as well. 30 minute Covid-19 tests are being made available now, so a possibility of sports reconvening without spectators is becoming more of a possibility.
