The NHL has released a memo to all teams and players, indicating that they will move into “Phase 2” of their return-to-play plan at some point in early June. That phase is made up of small informal workouts that will not include any coaches or support staff and will be limited to six players at any time. All players will be tested for COVID-19 two days before starting the workouts, and will then be tested twice a week thereafter.
This is a huge step towards the return of hockey in North America, though there are some obvious hurdles still to clear. This phase is not mandatory and players are allowed to participate even without returning to their team city. That means those residing in other markets (Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker in Minnesota for instance) will still be able to participate without having to travel.
According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, players returning to Canada from the United States will still need to go through the 14-day quarantine period before joining the skates.
It is important to understand that the league has still not set an exact date and could still delay the start of Phase 2 at any point:
Based on the current information available, we are now targeting a date in early June for a transition to Phase 2. However, it has not yet been determined when precisely Phase 2 will start or how long it may last. We are continuing to monitor developments in each of the Club’s markets, and may adjust the overall timing if appropriate, following discussion with all relevant parties.
Just stop it.
Stop what?? They just need to play. The measures they are going through are ridiculous.
Will the lethargic NHL Center Ice now double charge its current subscribers for this “extra” feature?
@joefriday14 – And risk potentially losing a substantial number of customers??? Probably, if Bettman’s 24-team stupidity is any indicator. A whole mess of folks may be contacting their credit card companies to dispute charges if they have to give Center Ice the ax. They owe you and every other customer those lost two months, especially if they’ve been charging you all this time.
ohhh me me ive been screwed over here
@MoneyBallJustWorks – Man, I hope you can get some financial justice! I’ve read horror stories over the years about stink-fests with these types of operations.
I don’t know why you have such an issue with 24 teams? Some teams had 13 games left to play, even the Habs mathematically had a chance to make the playoffs! I remember in 2013-14 I thought we were a lock to make the playoffs and we ended up losing 12 of the last 14 to drop from 2nd to out of the playoffs lol
@Sillysundin – You are aware of many/most radio shows in the G.T.A. have been dealing with that anniversary in recent days? I hear the gnashing of teeth through the interweb radio and I watched that game all the way through. I was laughing at the B’s fans that wanted back in, but were face-pushed! ;)
And, again, I reiterate that the cutoff should be 68 games, with tiebreakers, same as any other season.
Lol you have to play the number of game’s specified at the start you can’t just cut off at 68! You would have had to have the trade deadline sooner and on and on…….this way is the fairest given the circumstances let’s watch some hockey………….hopefully
@Sillysundin – 68 was the lowest common denominator here. Per the NHL standings: (link to nhl.com), CAR & NYI had the fewest games played, 68. Unless the league formally finishes the regular season, they should be going by the common minimum games played. Points percentage has generated its own share of stink, but this would lead to a more level finality to the regular season. Then, apply tiebreakers, just like any other season.
You either play all 82 which won’t happen or do what they’re doing, fairest way possible considering the circumstances
@Sillysundin – Remember, lockout years didn’t have full seasons played, either, and the playoff field wasn’t magically expanded to help teams outside the top 16. This just flat-out boils down to trying to recover lost revenue and gin up artificial TV drama.
They knew how many games would be played before the season started a BIG difference to what has happened now, this is by far the fairest way possible, the best team will win no matter how many teams are involved
@Sillysundin – I think it’s safe to say we both disagree on the degree of difference in the various shortened seasons in NHL history, but I don’t have that faith that the real best team will win. And, of course, we can probably both predict that the eventual winner will get carped on by hordes of disgruntled fans, regardless. You know, basically just another NHL season…
They have mac as I have NHL Center Ice package. Don’t know how many game will be on NBC or NBCSN I can’t speak for what will be shown on Canada networks not familiar here with them, may have to contact dish on that , now you mentioned that , Thanks!
Good to hear from you G! So, do I take it they have been charging you for undeliverable games? And, that they may try to basically double-charge you for these “extra” games? If so, that is very uncool, and may be illegal. Not to mention, really bad optics. Stay safe my friend!
Thanks for info in original post, right after that I called them and was given credit for to months with only regular package charge as they said by no means wasn’t the only call they have had and have been getting calls daily after first month of delay in games, so for now have to wait to see first bill on billing period is the first drop of puck is when it kicks in. so I do appreciate you bringing it up in response to a forum post , it saved $16 a month for 2 months as that is added to my regular basic package that we have, Thanks Mac , take of yourself , stay safe. Dish you do have to stay on top of them but have dealt with other satellite companies and believe me they ain’t perfect angels , hopefully when resume of play we can see what games are on NBC and NBCSN as well for games they carry.
Hopefully this gets a few bucks back in you guys’ pockets, so some good will have come out of this raucous discussion thread! Good deal!
Just had a great epiphany to tweak Bettman’s 24-team “idea.” “Resume to play”, featuring 24 teams in 2/4 hub cities. Teams 17-24 are there ONLY to be the tune-up squads for the top 16, determined after the 68-game cutoff with tiebreakers to trim the field. After the warmup games finish, the top 16 go on to play the REAL meaningful games and teams 17-24 get the second-best tee times. There you go – fewer asterisks.
The league had to have the NHLPA sign off on whatever plan they initiated. Doubt teams 17-24 would sign off on that which could have caused major issues
@bigdaddyt – That’s true, but if they were “bribed” to get some highly-coveted TV $$$ (which may not amount to diddly), you could see them go for that.
Good luck getting Canadian players into the US with the border closed.
@doobiejc – Bettman’s going to invent a VIP express lane for the players, with greasing of palms for both sides of the border.
It’s closed to non essential travel. I’m sure the nhl could get some travel visa’s for entry. The bigger issue is the players that went back to countries outside of North America like Russia for instance
@bigdaddyt – Yeah, you want to talk about “throwing a monkey into THAT wrench!” If you believe Igor Larionov’s accounts, they are probably still under a form of martial law right now. Thing is, how many guys does that affect right now, whether in Russia, or a similarly-restricted country?
Something to consider during the teeth gnashing of whether or not it’s safe to play the game again:
“New estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that COVID-19 may have an infection fatality rate as low as 0.26%, a number that is double the seasonal flu but significantly lower than earlier estimates.”
The actual number is likely even lower than that. And consider that NHL players are in the upper tier of healthy people. But if they can’t work this all out, that’s fine, I’ll just plop in my VHS tape of the Penguins back to back Cup wins in ’91 and ’92 (wipes tear from eye). Now that was a team! :)
Roughly 100,000 deaths in two months x 6 to equal 12 months is about 600,000 deaths. The flu kills about 36,000 a year. Sounds like someone at CDC needs a calculator.
But, the Pens did win in 91 and 92 and it was, indeed, great.
NHL Network aired the KBL feed of the Game 4 vs CHI the other day. It was great hearing Mike Lange at the top of his game.
The death rate has dropped considerably the past two weeks, so multiplying the current death totals by 6 isn’t going to produce a valid number. Viruses burn out when it gets hot out. Always have. And considering that people who have died with the virus but not because of the virus are being counted in those John Hopkins totals, the actual number is likely 20% lower.
But the early 90’s Pens……my favorite team ever. :)