Just a few hours after the MLB had to postpone several games due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the NHL released their own testing results for the final week of training camp. Those results were of a much different tenor, as the league had zero positive results out of 4,256 tests from last week. More than 800 players were included in those tests. During the two-week Phase 3 period, the league had two positive tests. All 24 teams have arrived in the bubble cities and will continue to be tested daily.
It’s hard to take this news as anything other than extremely encouraging for a league that is trying to finish the 2019-20 season in the safest way possible. The hurdle of getting to the bubble cities healthy was seen by many as the most difficult one, given the strict quarantine protocols they would be under once arriving. The players will now be stuck inside hotels and rinks for the next several weeks (or months, depending on how they perform), effectively completely isolated from the outside world. If they are heading into those bubbles completely healthy, there seems to be a good chance they will be able to finish the season.
It is important to remember that there are still obstacles in the way, but it does appear as though hockey is back. The exhibition schedule will start tomorrow, with official round-robin and qualification round games starting on the weekend.
yep, defiantly a bit better
*definitely
Thank God for Canada.
imagine if baseball would have just done a hub city like system instead? might have actually gotten more than 3 games into the year before having to shutterdown. hopefully hockey can continue the with 0 cases from here on out, will give me hope that next season might actually happen
True. Unfortunately, the areas MLB considered as potential bubble states (Texas, Florida, Arizona) are very hot areas.
Just seems like a matter of time before MLB is shut down
Baseball has an entire season to play. Not just the playoffs. You could never play in a bubble to play 900 games (plus playoffs), with 1800 players (plus coaches and staff), while also accounting for any weather issues that crop up.
they 100% could have though thats the sad thing. you dont think they could have taken over a couple smaller towns that have a baseball field or 2 and a couple hotels? the way mlb is doing it you could have 3 hub cities (east, west and central). also the 60 man roster wouldnt all report. similar to how it is now youd have a small group in reserves so maybe 33 players per team, if you have 3 hubs your looking at 330 players per hub. you dont think a multi billion dollar league could figure that out for 2 months plus playoffs?
For some reason I don’t understand people hate him, but Bettman has done a brilliant job putting the NHL in the best possible position to finish the season given the circumstances AND gotten a new CBA done on top of it in his spare time.