Eklund: Players Have Option to Opt Out Of Playoffs. Will Any? Would You? Buzz@1

How can they opt out of something not ratified?

Everything I read was a 72 hour opt out period AFTER ratification.

I would not. No chance.

The supposed ‘asterisk on the cup’ will be from players opting out and players lost to illness. But realistically they have to provide an opt out clause even if nobody is likely to take it. You can’t force people to play during a pandemic.

If a player opts out and that club wins the cup he may as well ask to be traded the next day. Also shouldn't get his name on the cup in that circumstance.

They shouldn't even be playing no one has zero clue what this virus will do later in their lifes

But hey its all about the money ...

They won't make it to round 2 of playoffs they will cancel it

How can they opt out of something not ratified?

Everything I read was a 72 hour opt out period AFTER ratification.
- jmatchett383

yes.corrected. thank you

I can see Max Domi and Kaapo Kakko opting out. Everyone else will probably play.

If Price wants to opt out because his wife is pregnant then that should be well within his right to do so. Family is more important than work. Domes shouldn't be playing but good luck trying to convince him not to play, he's been chomping at the bit to finally get in some playoff action

Who cares, this season is not going to be finished.

They shouldn't even be playing no one has zero clue what this virus will do later in their lifes

But hey its all about the money ...

They won't make it to round 2 of playoffs they will cancel it
- gerbe75pts

nothing you said makes any sense

They shouldn't even be playing no one has zero clue what this virus will do later in their lifes

But hey its all about the money ...

They won't make it to round 2 of playoffs they will cancel it
- gerbe75pts

The English is the good yes.

Who cares, this season is not going to be finished.
- Mentalorgasm5

Based on what? Or is it just Your opinion from your couch?

Who cares, this season is not going to be finished.
- Mentalorgasm5

why?

Based on what? Or is it just Your opinion from your couch?
- Tedge77

Nope, common sense. I am sure its a currency you are running low on.

Is there an opt in for players who opted out?

The pandemic is changing day by day, things could swing in a wildly positive way (say a real vaccine) which would make it easier for players to feel safe about joining the tournament.

Looking long term, a player opting out of this tournament, would that signal them opting out indefinitely until the situation has improved for them?? Like, what happens next season if we don’t get a vaccine?

If a player opts out and that club wins the cup he may as well ask to be traded the next day. Also shouldn't get his name on the cup in that circumstance.
- Gerk

If the player's team wins the Cup, I'm sure all will be forgiven. But imagine if their team loses a Game 7/close series... that would be tough.

With that said, it's conceivable that some players will rightly prioritize family and safety first. And I expect a number of players will end up having to leave the bubble for reasons too. I doubt most players/personnel will fault them, since it's gonna be a tough call for any of the guys w/ families/health issues. Fans on the other hand... tend to lack empathy and reason.

They shouldn't even be playing no one has zero clue what this virus will do later in their lifes

But hey its all about the money ...

They won't make it to round 2 of playoffs they will cancel it
- gerbe75pts

Why? Call me crazy but everyone I know is working. why shouldn't athletes? Are you one of those people who think it is ok for people to gather in large groups and protest if you agree with their their cause while at the same time don't think an athlete or entertainer should be able to work because they are nonessential? Honestly just wondering?

This resumption in play is just for money and not for what's good for hockey. Way too many negative possibilities will come from playing.

@Bluenote31 (Since the reply functions doesn't seem to like me at the moment...)

You specifically mention protests, why? If you're speaking of the BLM protests going on pretty much everywhere, the so called, "Social Justice Warriors" who attend them, while maybe not socially distancing, tend to adhere to mask policies, because they believe helping someone else (the ACTUAL point of the masks) is more important, not just to conceal their identity.

You speak of entertainers, if adhering to mask policies, well...while listening to Bane doing stand-up may actually be funny, it would severely hamper most entertainers.

...and yes, people are getting back to work. But in countries where reopening happened too soon, with little to no real direction in health policies, are seeing large spikes in COVID-19 cases. (Not just the US, but Brazil, and even parts of Australia.

I want life to go back to normal as much as you do, believe me. But the cost right now may just be too high. If some NHL players don't want to take the risk, I can't say I'd blame them.

Nope, common sense. I am sure its a currency you are running low on.
- Mentalorgasm5

I am low on currency after I met your mother last night. Stop,pretending you're smarter than the room save that for Tanner.

@Bluenote31 (Since the reply functions doesn't seem to like me at the moment...)

You specifically mention protests, why? If you're speaking of the BLM protests going on pretty much everywhere, the so called, "Social Justice Warriors" who attend them, while maybe not socially distancing, tend to adhere to mask policies, because they believe helping someone else (the ACTUAL point of the masks) is more important, not just to conceal their identity.

You speak of entertainers, if adhering to mask policies, well...while listening to Bane doing stand-up may actually be funny, it would severely hamper most entertainers.

...and yes, people are getting back to work. But in countries where reopening happened too soon, with little to no real direction in health policies, are seeing large spikes in COVID-19 cases. (Not just the US, but Brazil, and even parts of Australia.

I want life to go back to normal as much as you do, believe me. But the cost right now may just be too high. If some NHL players don't want to take the risk, I can't say I'd blame them.
- Darksyde

Yeah, but these guys are all going into a bubble. With daily testing, quarantine periods, controlled groups, great medical access, etc. etc. I am at more risk having to go to the grocery store once a week than any of these guys will be put in, and they are getting paid millions to do it. Honestly, it might even be safer for the guys with the medical concerns (type 1 diabetics, etc.) to be there than anywhere else, considering all of the safety controls in place. It is great that they have the option to make that decision individually though.

I noticed the following statement on the NHL site:

"As of Monday, July 6, the NHL has had 396 Players report to Club training/practice facilities for optional participation in Phase 2 activities. There have been in excess of 2,900 COVID-19 tests administered (including more than 1,400 this past week) to this group of Players."

396 players, 1400 tests, 1 week, that's about once every 2 days for every player on ave.

*cough*

I hate to toot my bugle, but...

In late March, many weeks long before the NHL announced a return to play, I said on Bill M's blog that the return to play was practically feasible and made economic sense. I said it would be based on the following:

One or two cities hosting
Empty stadiums
social distanced bubble, with complete isolation of players and support staff
Very frequent (I actually said daily, and rapid) testing with quarantine of only the players who test + while others are unaffected
The fact that TV revenues would yield in millions of $ of profit even if every series ended with minimum # of games and the most exorbitant costs were assumed for bubble.

There were some extraneous details (sanitized buses to drive players to rink and back, food dropped off in common areas etc.) but by and large I was right.

Zillions of people disagreed.

To which I say:


NA NA NYAH NA NA (frank)ing NAH!!!

@Bluenote31 (Since the reply functions doesn't seem to like me at the moment...)

You specifically mention protests, why? If you're speaking of the BLM protests going on pretty much everywhere, the so called, "Social Justice Warriors" who attend them, while maybe not socially distancing, tend to adhere to mask policies, because they believe helping someone else (the ACTUAL point of the masks) is more important, not just to conceal their identity.

You speak of entertainers, if adhering to mask policies, well...while listening to Bane doing stand-up may actually be funny, it would severely hamper most entertainers.

...and yes, people are getting back to work. But in countries where reopening happened too soon, with little to no real direction in health policies, are seeing large spikes in COVID-19 cases. (Not just the US, but Brazil, and even parts of Australia.

I want life to go back to normal as much as you do, believe me. But the cost right now may just be too high. If some NHL players don't want to take the risk, I can't say I'd blame them.
- Darksyde

I can agree with a lot of this. In my opinion if someone doesn't want to work or thinks that there is to much risk then that is their choice. I also think no one really knows the actual risk and anyone who claims to is feeding into all the misinformation that is out there.

Lastly, I just have to say as far as the protest stuff goes. I just don't like the idea that people get to put other people in danger because their issue is deemed more important somehow. Who quantifies that ? I believe 9 unarmed black people were shot by police in 2019 in US. Some of which posed other deadly risks at time than possessing a gun. How many have died from Covid? I understand these protests are about more than just an unarmed black person being shot but the double standards in general going on are scary.

I noticed the following statement on the NHL site:

"As of Monday, July 6, the NHL has had 396 Players report to Club training/practice facilities for optional participation in Phase 2 activities. There have been in excess of 2,900 COVID-19 tests administered (including more than 1,400 this past week) to this group of Players."

396 players, 1400 tests, 1 week, that's about once every 2 days for every player on ave.

*cough*

I hate to toot my bugle, but...

In late March, many weeks long before the NHL announced a return to play, I said on Bill M's blog that the return to play was practically feasible and made economic sense. I said it would be based on the following:

One or two cities hosting
Empty stadiums
social distanced bubble, with complete isolation of players and support staff
Very frequent (I actually said daily, and rapid) testing with quarantine of only the players who test + while others are unaffected
The fact that TV revenues would yield in millions of $ of profit even if every series ended with minimum # of games and the most exorbitant costs were assumed for bubble.

There were some extraneous details (sanitized buses to drive players to rink and back, food dropped off in common areas etc.) but by and large I was right.

Zillions of people disagreed.

To which I say:


NA NA NYAH NA NA (frank)ing NAH!!!
- PT21

Nobody cares