NHL looking at early June to launch Phase 2
With leagues around the world slowly returning to play, the National Hockey League is hoping that they will be able to launch Phase 2 of its plan to finish the 2019-2020 NHL season. The league had suspended play back on March 12th due to COVID-19 pandemic but is hoping that they will still be able to conclude the current campaign.
“It has not been determined when precisely Phase 2 will start or how long it may last,” read the memo. “We are continuing to monitor developments in each of the club’s markets, and may adjust the overall timing if appropriate, following discussion with all relevant parties.”
Phase 2 would allow for players to travel to club cities, testing, opening of practice facilities for small group workouts, and the wearing of personal protective equipment before entering or exiting club facilities. A maximum of six players would be allowed to practice at once in Phase 2, with limited number of team staff. Social distancing measures would still need to be in place though.
Phase 2 would require help from the government, however, as the league noted in their memo.
“The activity will be permitted only in those jurisdictions where the applicable health authorities have sufficiently relaxed local restrictions to permit such gatherings.”
The league also made it clear, they are not taking the pandemic lightly and that the safety of their players and staff must come first.
“As an over-riding principle, testing of asymptomatic players and club personnel must be done in the context of excess testing capacity, so as to not deprive health care workers, vulnerable populations and symptomatic individuals from necessary diagnostic tests,” said the memo.
“A range of clinical scenarios exist, from very mild to fatal outcome,” the memo continued. “COVID-19 generally affects older age groups and those with previously existing medical conditions, more so than younger, and otherwise healthy individuals.”
The league officially announced a new 24-team playoff format that would be used to finish the current season, which allows for eight more teams to reach the postseason. As the league was unable to finish the regular season prior to the pandemic, this concept seems like a fair compromise for those teams that are currently sitting just outside a playoff spot.
It remains to be seen whether the league will be able to move to Phase 2 and whether the controversial 24-team format will be able to get off the ground, but both the league and fans remain optimistic that it can happen.
If the NHL can return this summer, it is likely to look very different than what we are used to seeing. Aside from the 24-team playoff scenario, we will also see teams playing in one of two hub cities as to avoid unnecessary travel. Teams in the Eastern Conference would play in one city while teams in the Western Conference would play games in another city. The games would be played in empty arenas with no fans.
While no hub cities have been named yet, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Las Vegas are all being considered.
