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One key question must be answered before NHL play resumes

April 22, 2020, 2:13 PM ET [22 Comments]
Kevin Allen
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The NHL would be willing to start the 2020-21 season Dec. 1 if that is what it takes to finish the 2019-20 season and play 82 games next season.

According to multiple sources, the league is not going to allow the calendar to dictate when it resumes play. NHL officials will continue to monitor the pandemic and react accordingly. But there is clearly an expectation of completing the 2019-20 regular-season and playoffs.

Ideally, teams would hold a three-week training camp in May and June, finish the regular-season (although it could be reduced to 76 or 78 games) and then play two months of playoff hockey.

Multiple games per day will be played in select NHL cities with no fans in attendance. Teams with multiple rinks connected with the main rink, such as Buffalo and Columbus, for example, will undoubtedly be considered. Carolina is also known to be in the mix. It's likely to be one team per division. Teams will also have to practice as well as play, necessitating multiple rinks.

The NHL decided on NHL arenas, instead of neutral sites, because the league infrastructure and support people are already in place. Those building are set up to host and television NHL games.

Players would be sequestered, living in hotels, not interacting with the general population. You probably can't make them 100% safe, but the NHL plans to try. The idea would be to give them a biosphere-like safe zone. Players would be tested for the COVID-19 virus before the season resumes, and throughout the rest of the season.

Even if the NHL had to start in August, it would try to finish the regular season and have four rounds of playoffs. It’s believed the NHL could start next season on Dec. 1, play 82 games and still finish by the end of June, before the rescheduled summer Olympics begin. (That’s critical because NBC is both the NHL and Olympic rights holder).

Nothing is settled, far from it. But the NHL seems both cautious and determined. No one wants to play in empty arenas, but that is a reality that could stretch into next season as well. Based on interactions with fans, I think everyone would be excited to be able to watch playoff hockey on television. NBC could see better ratings.

Many would appreciate having NHL playoffs to help push through what promises to be a summer of isolation. No one should be in a hurry to go anywhere where a large crowd is present.

But I have one question: What happens if a player tests positive?

This is the most important question. It has to be answered on several different levels before the NHL can resume playing.

Presumably, a positive test would mean a player would have to leave the team and be quarantined. But we all know from watching virus experts on television that the COVID-19 can be spread even if an infected person is asymptomatic.

In other words, the player who tested positive may have already spread the disease to other team members. What if multiple players from one team test positive, does that team have to forfeit?

Don’t people have to be quarantined 14 days after they are exposed to the disease? What if, during a playoff series, players from both teams test positive? How many teams would have to show an infected player before we would cancel the season?

The NHL has outlined a logical, workable plan to move forward. Precautions are built in. Still, all of these questions have to be answered before we can see the NHL again.
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