The Toronto Maple Leafs and the six other Canadian clubs may see some of their home games shifted until later in the season due to the current fan capacity restrictions. Quebec and Manitoba are not allowing any fans for Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg home games, and Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia are limiting fan access to 50% for Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks games due to the COVID Omicron outbreak.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday that some Canadian teams’ home games could be postponed pending schedule shuffling because the NHL wants to protect revenues as much as possible while there are crowd limits.
The Leafs have not played since a 5-1 win in Edmonton on December 14 and have six postponed games to make up (Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, Columbus on the road, St. Louis and Pittsburgh at home), presumably in February during the three weeks previously reserved for Olympic break. Toronto is scheduled to resume play on New Year’s night vs. Ottawa and has games against Carolina and Edmonton during their three-game homestand.
With the ticket prices at Scotiabank Arena being among the highest in the league, the loss of revenue for three home games might be significant enough for the league to postpone those games until later in the season when Canadian buildings return to full capacity.
The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun indicated that a number of Habs and Jets games could be moved due to their province’s no fan policy and that could put the Leafs - Montreal game at the Bell Centre on January 6 in jeopardy, since the revenue for a single Canadiens game is in excess of $2 million.
Frank Seravalli is reporting that Leafs games on January 3rd vs. the Hurricanes and in Montreal on January 6th will be postponed, but that they will still host the Senators on January 1st and the Oilers on January 5th.
*******
World Junior Update
Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen went pointless in Finland’s 7-1 victory over Austria on Monday, but Topi Niemela scored his first goal of the tournament in the Finn’s second victory.
2021 second-rounder Matthew Knies was scheduled to play vs. Switzerland on Tuesday, but two positive COVID tests forced Team USA to forfeit the contest.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»