NHL sent a memo updating vaccination requirements to its teams: "Any person whose job, role, position or access entails or entitles them to have personal interactions (within 12 feet) with Club Hockey Operations personnel (including Players) are required to be Fully Vaccinated."

So from my count, any operational staff employed by the team, and a growing number of fanbases are going to be required to be vaccinated, but the players (thus far) are not required.

At what point will players not be required to sit out is COVID protocol?

"he wants the hard work and he wants guys skating hard and guys winning battles." -Patrick Kane on Jeremy Colliton

Isn't that what every coach at every level of hockey, from Pee Wee to Major Junior to the NHL, wants? JC is not unique in wanting those qualities. However, he's failed to achieve them in 7 of his 8 seasons as a Head Coach.

I'm sure with the upgraded personnel, and a full training camp, JC will have the Blackhawks firing on all cylinders this season.

- scottak

So JC still sucks... got it.

NHL sent a memo updating vaccination requirements to its teams: "Any person whose job, role, position or access entails or entitles them to have personal interactions (within 12 feet) with Club Hockey Operations personnel (including Players) are required to be Fully Vaccinated."

So from my count, any operational staff employed by the team, and a growing number of fanbases are going to be required to be vaccinated, but the players (thus far) are not required.

At what point will players not be required to sit out is COVID protocol?
- Chunk

You’ve commented a few times about players not being vaccinated. Do you think the NHL should mandate it?

You’ve commented a few times about players not being vaccinated. Do you think the NHL should mandate it?
- paulr

Touchy subject but believe NFL instituted a rule where if teams have enough cases to force a postponement of a game, the team has to forfeit it.

Think that should go into effect for the NHL and all major sports. Each their own, but if you end up costing your team a game......


Wasn;t it calgary last year who had games pushed back that delayed the start of the all Canada division where as the other 3 divisions playoffs had already started?

Touchy subject but believe NFL instituted a rule where if teams have enough cases to force a postponement of a game, the team has to forfeit it.

Think that should go into effect for the NHL and all major sports. Each their own, but if you end up costing your team a game......


Wasn;t it calgary last year who had games pushed back that delayed the start of the all Canada division where as the other 3 divisions playoffs had already started?
- SteveRain

I’m with you. And to take it further I’d like Canada to institute a mandate where everyone needs to be vaccinated. Unless of course there a valid provable medical reason for not doing so. This virus will keep mutating and we’ll keep on having to go into lock downs and personally I’m tired of it. The cost in dollars is enormous in health care and in the impact to the economy. Not to mention the worse issue of people getting extremely sick and dying.

You’ve commented a few times about players not being vaccinated. Do you think the NHL should mandate it?
- paulr

Nope. My biggest issue with all of this is that there is no uniformity of rules or enforcement. Whatever the plan is, state it clearly and enforce it as such. I'm fully aware that the league has to deal with the PA, but this should have already been discussed, argued, and agreed to. That they haven't yet, nor have they communicated (to the best of my research), what the rules will be is a joke to me.

Has anyone found anything regarding what the league plans to do if Canada shuts the border again?

I'm sure there are arguments on the other side of this, but to me, if all players, staff, coaches, and anyone expected to be in close proximity to these people (including fane) are required to be vaccinated, then there should be no reason that a player is held out for quarantine.

That is why I've been so interested in the league/PA stance on this. We know that the league wants to mandate it. They've already mandated it for the swaths of people who have little bargaining power. I don't begrudge the PA for holding out if they have a big argument against it, but again, the league (IMO) needs to be clear on the guidelines.

StaHlberg, great wheels, no hands, giant ego and self important. If he kept his big trap shut and just played he’s a decent fourth line player.
- paulr

Boy isn't that the truth. 1st man on the forecheck has to have speed. A large body and long reach are good assets to have too. He was a Ben Eager type for a 4th liner but he didn't want to be. If he had any hands he wouldn't have had to be.

Nope. My biggest issue with all of this is that there is no uniformity of rules or enforcement. Whatever the plan is, state it clearly and enforce it as such. I'm fully aware that the league has to deal with the PA, but this should have already been discussed, argued, and agreed to. That they haven't yet, nor have they communicated (to the best of my research), what the rules will be is a joke to me.

Has anyone found anything regarding what the league plans to do if Canada shuts the border again?

I'm sure there are arguments on the other side of this, but to me, if all players, staff, coaches, and anyone expected to be in close proximity to these people (including fane) are required to be vaccinated, then there should be no reason that a player is held out for quarantine.

That is why I've been so interested in the league/PA stance on this. We know that the league wants to mandate it. They've already mandated it for the swaths of people who have little bargaining power. I don't begrudge the PA for holding out if they have a big argument against it, but again, the league (IMO) needs to be clear on the guidelines.
- Chunk

Maybe “they” can just put the vaccine into the next batch of chemtrails “they” spray on us all, and be done with it.

Boy isn't that the truth. 1st man on the forecheck has to have speed. A large body and long reach are good assets to have too. He was a Ben Eager type for a 4th liner but he didn't want to be. If he had any hands he wouldn't have had to be.
- 6628

I think this is why people get excited about Entwistle. While not a burner, he showed that he had the ability to get by defenders and cause some havoc on the forecheck. Hopefully he improves on that in Rockford and becomes a solid bottom 6 forward.

Maybe “they” can just put the vaccine into the next batch of chemtrails “they” spray on us all, and be done with it.
- Ogilthorpe2

Are both of those "they" the same people?

I’m with you. And to take it further I’d like Canada to institute a mandate where everyone needs to be vaccinated. Unless of course there a valid provable medical reason for not doing so. This virus will keep mutating and we’ll keep on having to go into lock downs and personally I’m tired of it. The cost in dollars is enormous in health care and in the impact to the economy. Not to mention the worse issue of people getting extremely sick and dying.
- paulr

Same...I am exhausted by Covid....likely never going away, so just get the vaccine so if/when you get it, your symptoms will over quick and we can all move on.

It's truly exhausting. More tin foil hats in America than I EVER imagined possible.

So JC still sucks... got it.
- Chunk

No, he's won me over. I've been much too hard on poor JC. This year, his 9th as a HC, he's figured it out and will lead the Blackhawks back to the playoffs.

I think this is why people get excited about Entwistle. While not a burner, he showed that he had the ability to get by defenders and cause some havoc on the forecheck. Hopefully he improves on that in Rockford and becomes a solid bottom 6 forward.
- Chunk

Great bass player too

Maybe “they” can just put the vaccine into the next batch of chemtrails “they” spray on us all, and be done with it.
- Ogilthorpe2

i blame you for the chem trails..........

Boy isn't that the truth. 1st man on the forecheck has to have speed. A large body and long reach are good assets to have too. He was a Ben Eager type for a 4th liner but he didn't want to be. If he had any hands he wouldn't have had to be.
- 6628

Like the kid in the mighty ducks....tons of speed, no skill. I can't remember exactly but he had a TON of breakaways that year and had zero moves and rarely finished....if he did finish he may have sniffed 40 goals that year......

No, he's won me over. I've been much too hard on poor JC. This year, his 9th as a HC, he's figured it out and will lead the Blackhawks back to the playoffs.
- scottak

I'm not defending the guy. Just trying to have some fun pointing out that we know you can't stand him. Very well documented. To that end - and as noted in Theo's blog, he is likely to be on a shorter leash going forward and if he does not produce, or at least show improvement, he'll be shown the door.

The Hawks were not that far off from a playoff spot this past year. I don't think it out of the realm of possibility that the FO expects that this team should at least make the final 8 in the conference.

Like the kid in the mighty ducks....tons of speed, no skill. I can't remember exactly but he had a TON of breakaways that year and had zero moves and rarely finished....if he did finish he may have sniffed 40 goals that year......
- SteveRain

He missed more breakaways than Saad.

He missed more breakaways than Saad.
- 6628

In my eyes, nothing will ever beat Blake Comeau trying to drop pass to Mackinnon during a breakaway and completely wasting an opportunity.

Same...I am exhausted by Covid....likely never going away, so just get the vaccine so if/when you get it, your symptoms will over quick and we can all move on.

It's truly exhausting. More tin foil hats in America than I EVER imagined possible.
- SteveRain

The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.

In alphabetical order:

Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

I still see them as bottom dwellers.
- LAHawk

Cap issues going forward lack of team speed lack of phyiscallity in fowards coaching is still iffy and now this season going up against better competition overall. Still see them at best a bubble team. Imo Towes is one biggest queston marks and certain players need to taje that next step in their development. Nylander dach lankinen just to name a few. Hawks on paper are better and will be more watchable. But comes down to execution and fundamentals like Theo likes to say. Still think there will be couple more moves before the start of the regular season.

He missed more breakaways than Saad.
- 6628

Yes, but Saad has other good attributes to his game that Stalberg never had. If Saad had decent hands he’d be around $8M or so per year. I like Saad, was hoping he would land on the east coast and not in the western conference, especially on a team like the Blues.

i don't think Stan's dad is making decisions on the team that much anymore.
- powerenforcer

From what i heard and speculation is after the last cup scotty basically retired. Guy is in his 80's. so most likely not not involved to the capacity he once was.

I’m with you. And to take it further I’d like Canada to institute a mandate where everyone needs to be vaccinated. Unless of course there a valid provable medical reason for not doing so. This virus will keep mutating and we’ll keep on having to go into lock downs and personally I’m tired of it. The cost in dollars is enormous in health care and in the impact to the economy. Not to mention the worse issue of people getting extremely sick and dying.
- paulr

Well then you get all the "you can't infringe on my freedom folks". Let us not forget that vaccines have been required in public schools for a long time.... or that idk we have tons of rules that restrict our freedom.....

The logic is almost identical to the arguments made against imposing seat belt laws and helmet laws. Helmets are seat belts don't 100% guarantee you won't die in an accident so why do we have to wear them.

People see videos on youtube and get convinced that the person in the video is telling the truth, simply because said person is an articulate powerful speaker.

Human nature doesn't change. Best part is finding out what athletes are completed block heads... Anthony Rizzo and Arrieta to name a few.

i blame you for the chem trails..........
- SteveRain

I love Vapor Trails. First concert I got to go to.

https://twitter.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1426264050011357185?s=01

Looks like the schedule is out
- BetweenTheDots

Looking at the schedule I'm trying to determine when the Hawks will be out of playoff contention. I'm thinking somewhere between October 12 - 13.