Lucas Neilson: 2020 NHL Season in Jeopardy Safety First

Just in time for the new Path of Exile league... no distractions

Fire Dubas

NBA will probably start back up 2 weeks from now.

NBA will probably start back up 2 weeks from now.
- LeafGuy89

Hard to see that happening. Doubt the Leafs play tonight. League might cancel the rest of the season and go straight to the playoffs when its safe.

I am writing to you from Bergamo, Italy, at the heart of the coronavirus crisis. The news media in the US has not captured the severity of what is happening here. I am writing this post because each of you, today, not the government, not the school district, not the mayor, each individual citizen has the chance, today to take actions that will deter the Italian situation from becoming your own country’s reality. The only way to stop this virus is to limit contagion. And the only way to limit contagion is for millions of people to change their behavior today.

If you are in Europe or the US you are weeks away from where we are today in Italy.

I can hear you now. “It’s just a flu. It only affects old people with preconditions”

There are 2 reasons why Coronavirus has brought Italy to it’s knees. First it is a flu is devastating when people get really sick they need weeks of ICU – and, second, because of how fast and effectively it spreads. There is 2 week incubation period and many who have it never show symptoms.

When Prime Minister Conte announced last night that the entire country, 60 million people, would go on lock down, the line that struck me most was “there is no more time.” Because to be clear, this national lock down, is a hail mary. What he means is that if the numbers of contagion do not start to go down, the system, Italy, will collapse.

Why? Today the ICUs in Lombardy are at capacity – more than capacity. They have begun to put ICU units in the hallways. If the numbers do not go down, the growth rate of contagion tells us that there will be thousands of people who in a matter of a week? two weeks? who will need care. What will happen when there are 100, or a 1000 people who need the hospital and only a few ICU places left?

On Monday a doctor wrote in the paper that they have begun to have to decide who lives and who dies when the patients show up in the emergency room, like what is done in war. This will only get worse.

There are a finite number of drs, nurses, medical staff and they are getting the virus. They have also been working non-stop, non-stop for days and days. What happens when the drs, nurses and medical staff are simply not able to care for the patients, when they are not there?

And finally for those who say that this is just something that happens to old people, starting yesterday the hospitals are reporting that younger and younger patients – 40, 45, 18, are coming in for treatment.

You have a chance to make a difference and stop the spread in your country. Push for the entire office to work at home today, cancel birthday parties, and other gatherings, stay home as much as you can. If you have a fever, any fever, stay home. Push for school closures, now. Anything you can do to stop the spread, because it is spreading in your communities – there is a two week incubation period – and if you do these things now you can buy your medical system time.

And for those who say it is not possible to close the schools, and do all these other things, locking down Italy was beyond anyone’s imagination a week ago.

Soon you will not have a choice, so do what you can now.

Please share.

*text someone sent me

Hard to see that happening. Doubt the Leafs play tonight. League might cancel the rest of the season and go straight to the playoffs when its safe.
- winsix

They would probably not be able to start until June.
probably best of 3 in first round, best of 5 in second and third round and then best of 7 in finals.
that's still hockey until early July...

NBA will probably start back up 2 weeks from now.
- LeafGuy89

That's doubtful. The thing that Brian Burke said that caught me the most, and it's probably the most accurate, is that the league is at the mercy of local health officials anyway.

Many are recommending avoiding large gatherings, but with 12 states (at least that I know of) in states of emergency, they will move to banning large gatherings altogether and this number will grow if the virus spreads. If a significant portion of your teams can't play, then trying to find relocated venues to play in will be too cumbersome and they're better off suspending play anyway.

Unfortunately, this is a problem that is months long, not a couple of weeks.

That's doubtful. The thing that Brian Burke said that caught me the most, and it's probably the most accurate, is that the league is at the mercy of local health officials anyway.

Many are recommending avoiding large gatherings, but with 12 states (at least that I know of) in states of emergency, they will move to banning large gatherings altogether and this number will grow if the virus spreads. If a significant portion of your teams can't play, then trying to find relocated venues to play in will be too cumbersome and they're better off suspending play anyway.

Unfortunately, this is a problem that is months long, not a couple of weeks.
- Monkeypunk

I agree.. I read that the Raptors told their players to stay inside for 2 weeks.. If the league re-starts in 2 weeks, and there is no resolution to this virus, then the players would still be at risk.

My high school buddy is the Head of Infectious Disease at the IWK in Halifax.

I asked him about this virus last night. He replied.

- Social Isolation is clearly a benefit - avoiding large gatherings, hand-washing after being in public places, travel is very risky at the moment.

- Airplanes and Airports are the best vehicle to spread this virus.

- Many in healthcare will get this virus

- There is honestly a lot of unknowns out there and nobody is an expert at the moment.

- Italy had 200 deaths yesterday - basically a plane crash everyday.

- People under 65 are handling it well.

That's doubtful. The thing that Brian Burke said that caught me the most, and it's probably the most accurate, is that the league is at the mercy of local health officials anyway.

Many are recommending avoiding large gatherings, but with 12 states (at least that I know of) in states of emergency, they will move to banning large gatherings altogether and this number will grow if the virus spreads. If a significant portion of your teams can't play, then trying to find relocated venues to play in will be too cumbersome and they're better off suspending play anyway.

Unfortunately, this is a problem that is months long, not a couple of weeks.
- Monkeypunk

I get that. But a ton of money will be lost and in the end, many corporates are more financially concerned than health concerns. That's just the way she goes unfortunately.

But yeah I do expect the leagues to shut down longer, I just dont want them to

My high school buddy is the Head of Infectious Disease at the IWK in Halifax.

I asked him about this virus last night. He replied.

- Social Isolation is clearly a benefit - avoiding large gatherings, hand-washing after being in public places, travel is very risky at the moment.

- Airplanes and Airports are the best vehicle to spread this virus.

- Many in healthcare will get this virus

- There is honestly a lot of unknowns out there and nobody is an expert at the moment.

- Italy had 200 deaths yesterday - basically a plane crash everyday.

- People under 65 are handling it well.
- bixll

Your friend obviously isn't on hockeybuzz. Experts abound!

Your friend obviously isn't on hockeybuzz. Experts abound!
- TheMussel

LOL. Nope, he is a real doctor.

I am writing to you from Bergamo, Italy, at the heart of the coronavirus crisis. The news media in the US has not captured the severity of what is happening here. I am writing this post because each of you, today, not the government, not the school district, not the mayor, each individual citizen has the chance, today to take actions that will deter the Italian situation from becoming your own country’s reality. The only way to stop this virus is to limit contagion. And the only way to limit contagion is for millions of people to change their behavior today.

If you are in Europe or the US you are weeks away from where we are today in Italy.

I can hear you now. “It’s just a flu. It only affects old people with preconditions”

There are 2 reasons why Coronavirus has brought Italy to it’s knees. First it is a flu is devastating when people get really sick they need weeks of ICU – and, second, because of how fast and effectively it spreads. There is 2 week incubation period and many who have it never show symptoms.

When Prime Minister Conte announced last night that the entire country, 60 million people, would go on lock down, the line that struck me most was “there is no more time.” Because to be clear, this national lock down, is a hail mary. What he means is that if the numbers of contagion do not start to go down, the system, Italy, will collapse.

Why? Today the ICUs in Lombardy are at capacity – more than capacity. They have begun to put ICU units in the hallways. If the numbers do not go down, the growth rate of contagion tells us that there will be thousands of people who in a matter of a week? two weeks? who will need care. What will happen when there are 100, or a 1000 people who need the hospital and only a few ICU places left?

On Monday a doctor wrote in the paper that they have begun to have to decide who lives and who dies when the patients show up in the emergency room, like what is done in war. This will only get worse.

There are a finite number of drs, nurses, medical staff and they are getting the virus. They have also been working non-stop, non-stop for days and days. What happens when the drs, nurses and medical staff are simply not able to care for the patients, when they are not there?

And finally for those who say that this is just something that happens to old people, starting yesterday the hospitals are reporting that younger and younger patients – 40, 45, 18, are coming in for treatment.

You have a chance to make a difference and stop the spread in your country. Push for the entire office to work at home today, cancel birthday parties, and other gatherings, stay home as much as you can. If you have a fever, any fever, stay home. Push for school closures, now. Anything you can do to stop the spread, because it is spreading in your communities – there is a two week incubation period – and if you do these things now you can buy your medical system time.

And for those who say it is not possible to close the schools, and do all these other things, locking down Italy was beyond anyone’s imagination a week ago.

Soon you will not have a choice, so do what you can now.

Please share.

*text someone sent me
- Garnie

You going to upset Santo. Apparently, anyone talking about this being a serious problem is just panicking everyone and making it worse.

This article has a link to the guidelines that Italian emergency doctors have developed to decide who to treat and who not to treat. They are using wartime triage principles. The reality is that in a modern, well developed medical system (northern Italy at least) patients who could easily be treated are dying because doctors can’t get to them.

https://www.theatlantic.c...gets-hospital-bed/607807/

LOL. Nope, he is a real doctor.
- bixll

Not a bad friend to have on the other end of a text message these days!

Not a bad friend to have on the other end of a text message these days!
- TheMussel

One of my best friends, old high school buddy.

I get that. But a ton of money will be lost and in the end, many corporates are more financially concerned than health concerns. That's just the way she goes unfortunately.

But yeah I do expect the leagues to shut down longer, I just dont want them to
- LeafGuy89

This is true. It's also why healthcare trumps financial interest in terms of hierarchy; otherwise murdering people for their nice shoes would be legal.

We need some body in place to regulate our greedy tendencies.

There's gotta be an adult adulting somewhere or else we're all screwed.

Leafs win the Cup this year. No one in the stands, and no one at the parade. So (frank)ing Leafy...

Leafs win the Cup this year. No one in the stands, and no one at the parade. So (frank)ing Leafy...
- Steven_Seagull

No one in the parade after all that planning...😭

You going to upset Santo. Apparently, anyone talking about this being a serious problem is just panicking everyone and making it worse.

This article has a link to the guidelines that Italian emergency doctors have developed to decide who to treat and who not to treat. They are using wartime triage principles. The reality is that in a modern, well developed medical system (northern Italy at least) patients who could easily be treated are dying because doctors can’t get to them.

https://www.theatlantic.c...gets-hospital-bed/607807/
- Canada Cup

Dialling down panic is a good thing

There is a way too large of the healthy population of this world that think they will die from a common virus. Yes, the Coronavirus will be a common virus. Most of the world will be infected at some point.

The healthy will be fine. People need to know this. It’s a fact that Ontario hospitals are already getting an overflow of non critical patients clogging up the system.

For the millionth time. Dial back the panic.

No one here is disagreeing with quarantine. You can limit panic and still agree with quarantine. It’s one of your problems you seem to have.

nah... just another summer of Dubas hiding after making questionable, risky moves.

same old same old

but he'll stay on track with strategy.... and that's what matters - the strategy or philosophy is key... results are insignificant

actually didn't really back read much... couldn't be bothered - but a couple of observations
1) little to no mention of Rielly's return (I thought he looked better as the game progressed - expected timing problems at/near the start

2) response to Freddie getting hit... it isn't necessary to fight - what Spezza did a couple of weeks back was perfect... not sure why this is a difficult concept to get through to the team

3) Freddie - according to the coach was particularly good in the 2nd... no kidding - pretty much left alone for the period - is anyone complaining about the donkeys who did nothing in front of him for an entire period? oh I forgot Freddie hasn't been great for a few months... so its all his fault

4) isn't it amazing how a little shock treatment goes a long way to waking up the powerplay... you know try something different?
- BorjeFan4Ever

I'd rather talk hockey, so I'm copying this from Mike's blog.

1) I agree. It was pretty obvious that we've been missing Rielly the second you saw him control the puck in the back-end. "Oh yeah. That's really helpful" type of thing.

2) Some type of response would be good - even if it's just grabbing him and letting him know you know it was deliberate. It also hopefully wakes the refs up a bit. There were at least 3 disparate plays where Tampa tried to rattle Freddy in some fashion, and the refs called only 1. As a former goalie, I am a gigantic proponent of the blue ice offering protection. If I'm in the blue ice and the puck isn't and you hit me without being directed in, go sit for your 2 minutes or less, asshat. That is completely on the officials for letting that poop happen repeatedly. Honestly, the players shouldn't HAVE to step up.

3) Freddy was outstanding against Tampa. I think the criticism of Freddy is being misinterpreted. No one is saying that he sucks. Everyone is saying he hasn't consistently played as well as he is capable of; this game was an example of what he's capable of, and it's what we want from him on a game-to-game basis. If he does that, he goes back to being the hero and MVP of the team.

4) Agreed. They need to stop being so predictable in what they do. Their zone entries are still terrible. Watching Tyson Barrie slow to a crawl, turn 180 degrees and telegraph a pass . . . how does that type of a drop back help anyone? Anyway, I despite the way the Leafs use the drop back on the powerplay.

My high school buddy is the Head of Infectious Disease at the IWK in Halifax.

I asked him about this virus last night. He replied.

- Social Isolation is clearly a benefit - avoiding large gatherings, hand-washing after being in public places, travel is very risky at the moment.

- Airplanes and Airports are the best vehicle to spread this virus.

- Many in healthcare will get this virus

- There is honestly a lot of unknowns out there and nobody is an expert at the moment.

- Italy had 200 deaths yesterday - basically a plane crash everyday.

- People under 65 are handling it well.
- bixll

Yeah most of the world will get this. Those that are healthy need to leave the health care to those that need it.

Hundreds of healthy individuals go to the emerg every day for the flu only to get sent home. This needs to stop for this Coronavirus.

I'd rather talk hockey, so I'm copying this from Mike's blog.

1) I agree. It was pretty obvious that we've been missing Rielly the second you saw him control the puck in the back-end. "Oh yeah. That's really helpful" type of thing.

2) Some type of response would be good - even if it's just grabbing him and letting him know you know it was deliberate. It also hopefully wakes the refs up a bit. There were at least 3 disparate plays where Tampa tried to rattle Freddy in some fashion, and the refs called only 1. As a former goalie, I am a gigantic proponent of the blue ice offering protection. If I'm in the blue ice and the puck isn't and you hit me without being directed in, go sit for your 2 minutes or less, asshat. That is completely on the officials for letting that poop happen repeatedly. Honestly, the players shouldn't HAVE to step up.

3) Freddy was outstanding against Tampa. I think the criticism of Freddy is being misinterpreted. No one is saying that he sucks. Everyone is saying he hasn't consistently played as well as he is capable of; this game was an example of what he's capable of, and it's what we want from him on a game-to-game basis. If he does that, he goes back to being the hero and MVP of the team.

4) Agreed. They need to stop being so predictable in what they do. Their zone entries are still terrible. Watching Tyson Barrie slow to a crawl, turn 180 degrees and telegraph a pass . . . how does that type of a drop back help anyone? Anyway, I despite the way the Leafs use the drop back on the powerplay.
- Monkeypunk

But thats the UG playbook.

If you say Freddy needs to be better, he is not playing up to his normal level.

UG takes that as you saying he sucks and constructs a whole argument around how you think he is terrible and the Leafs need a new goalie.

In Canada 3500 people die from Influenza evey year. Panic.....

Yeah most of the world will get this. Those that are healthy need to leave the health care to those that need it.

Hundreds of healthy individuals go to the emerg every day for the flu only to get sent home. This needs to stop for this Coronavirus.
- Santo_44

I had to go to outpatients at my local hospital last week...one look at the waiting room scared the crap right out of me