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. Thanks to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who just happens to be the nation’s top infectious disease expert, it may happen sooner rather than later, and this quote has been originally derived from espn.com a few weeks ago, “Nobody comes to the stadium,” Fauci told Peter Hamby, “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.” The NHL has vowed to work hand-in-hand with the CDC, and this continues to be an option that has been floated around for the past few weeks. Dr. Fauci’s comments really should give fans a sense of optimism that hockey could reconvene at some point this Summer.
Bubble Life
Darren Dreger, Frank Seravalli, and Pierre LeBrun are now indicating that the NHL plans to enter phase two, which is the re-opening of practice facilities for small group workouts by mid-late May. The hope is for the season to reconvene at some point in late June, July, or even in August. However, this was met with some concerns from some players this week ahain. 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.
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). My comrade Yariv Wolok has been saying this for weeks, and we discussed it on episode 4 on our Podcast “Gettin Gritty Wit It” weeks ago.
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 Manchester, NH, and North Dakota. 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 (Re-opening of facilities), depending on the virus and states of course.
Playoff Format
The biggest update is the 24 team playoff format. Moreover, the NHL and NHLPA return to play committee has talked all weekend per Pierre LeBrun, and a lot of traction has been made with a 24 team playoff format. Unbelievable right? The NHL would roll back to an across the board number of games played that would determine the standings, and play ins if you will. Hopefully, both parties could come to some sort of agreement by the end of the week. There is also a Board of Governor’s meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm.
Of course, the Flyers would be in the playoffs and would receive a first round bye, per Jason Myrteus’s format. According to Myrteus’s format the Flyers would play the winner of the Montreal Canadiens-Pittsburgh Penguins three game play in game shown below (There is talk of playing a few regular season games before the playoffs begin, per Bill Meltzer):
Lastly, both parties should come to a decision this week on when the draft should take place. If it’s held in June it would be the end of June, as the NHL would need one month to prepare for the draft. Let’s see what happens here and not speculate.
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.
