Mitch Marner: "Well, dude, like, just imagine it," he said on his Twitch stream. "What my thought on this is, 'OK, like, I'm all down for starting everything back up. Let's rock.' But what if someone gets sick and dies? What happens? It's awful to think about, but still."
Radko Gudas: “I think we shouldn’t play when the whole world is canceling seasons,” Gudas said. “Hockey would be the only team sport trying to power through it like this. They won’t let us go to the Olympics so we won’t get injured, but they want to keep the NHL season running in these times. If we kept playing, our sport would be swimming against the current a bit.
“Money is money, it’s what currently makes the world go round,” Gudas added. “It’s a bit sad that they are willing to risk the health of so many players for money.”
There is just no way, in my mind, that they get the players onside for this. At least not all of them. And if the NHL tries to strong-arm players, it is a PR nightmare. If they allow players to decide if they are participating or not, it undermines the season.
Radko Gudas: “I think we shouldn’t play when the whole world is canceling seasons,” Gudas said. “Hockey would be the only team sport trying to power through it like this.
well that's just not true. European soccer leagues are about to re-start or have already re-started (Germany), and some basketball leagues are trying to come back too.
well that's just not true. European soccer leagues are about to re-start or have already re-started (Germany), and some basketball leagues are trying to come back too.
Korean baseball as well.
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I bet they find a way around or do away with that 14 day quarantine. If a team is quarantined before coming down and have all the documents of being tested regularly (and don't break quarantine to get toothpaste), I could see them waving the 14 days. Also by time this rolls out who even knows if Nevada and Ohio even still have that restriction.
There's not really any way to do away with the 14 day quarantine. It can take that long for someone to test positive after exposure. Trying to cut corners on that is a recipe for an outbreak.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monahammer
some issues i see immediately:
- How many ice surfaces are there in Vegas that are playable for NHL games? Ditto Columbus. With ~14 teams playing games, there's either going to be a really ####ed up condensed schedule with teams playing all throughout the day, or many teams will be playing in sub standard rinks. Would they even be able to televise the games in the sub standard rinks effectively? If not either of those, they could just stretch the number of games out over more days, but without doing the math it seems we'd be playing out the playoffs until November at that pace.
- Vegas is in the desert. I know it's a brand new arena, but how good would the ice surface reasonably be after 3.5- 7 games per day?? I would guess the ice is going to be dog#### at best. Anyone who has been to Ohio knows it can be a humid swamp during the summer too. Can't imagine the ice there will be any better.
Ohio State University has a Division 1 hockey team that plays in its own 18,000 seat arena on campus (about 4 miles from Nationwide Arena). The OSU women's team plays in a smaller arena on campus that could be used as a practice rink. Nationwide also has a practice rink attached to the arena.
In Vegas, the Golden Knights are moving their AHL affiliate into the Orleans Casino's arena, so it should have all the necessary amenities. Their practice facility has 2 rinks in it. Plus, many of the other casinos have arenas that have ice-making capabilities. The Kings used to host a preseason game at the MGM Grand every year. I'm not sure if the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV has ice-making equipment, but if it does, that would be another option.
In terms of ice quality, my understanding is that the biggest issue in maintaining good ice in the summer is humidity. That isn't a problem in Vegas. If they're going to be playing in empty rinks, they won't need to worry about body heat and can minimize the amount of time the doors are open, which will make maintaining a constant temperature easier.
I don't know about maintaining quality ice in Columbus.
In terms of scheduling, if they do what was talked about last week and resume with 24 teams split into 4 groups of 6, each team would play one additional game against the other 5 teams in their group to "finish" the regular season. That's a total of 15 games for each group of 6. I'd say that 8 days is the minimum amount of time that you could expect a team to play 5 games. If you stretch that to 10 days, you can start play on a Friday and go through the following Sunday. 15 games over 10 days in each rink shouldn't be too stressful for the ice, especially if they don't have to deal with large crowds elevating the temperature.
For the playoffs, assuming they'd still be using 2 arenas in each city for the first round (and a play-in round if they have one), they could run the two series in each arena on alternating nights. In the second round, they could move into just one arena and still run the games on alternating nights. For the third round and the Finals, you'd only have one series in each city.
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Hasn’t the NBA been moving towards cancelling their season completely? I wonder if the NHL will make a decision much different from the other major leagues in North America
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Hasn’t the NBA been moving towards cancelling their season completely? I wonder if the NHL will make a decision much different from the other major leagues in North America
Nope.
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Hasn’t the NBA been moving towards cancelling their season completely? I wonder if the NHL will make a decision much different from the other major leagues in North America
The nba has been doing the same thing as the Nhl. They are looking into and trying to see if they can finish the season. I believe NBA practice facilities have now opened for most clubs.
Hasn’t the NBA been moving towards cancelling their season completely? I wonder if the NHL will make a decision much different from the other major leagues in North America
Just like when seasons originally got put on hold for COVID and the NBA was first to make that call, I think the NBA will be the first to cancel the season completely and the NHL will have no choice to follow suit.
Would be a PR nightmare if the NBA cancelled and the NHL didn't and players got real sick and/or spread the pandemic etc.
Just like when seasons originally got put on hold for COVID and the NBA was first to make that call, I think the NBA will be the first to cancel the season completely and the NHL will have no choice to follow suit.
Would be a PR nightmare if the NBA cancelled and the NHL didn't and players got real sick and/or spread the pandemic etc.
NBA made the call first because a player tested positive for covid. It really doesn’t matter who shut down first anyway. All leagues were going to be shut down Around that time frame.
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There's not really any way to do away with the 14 day quarantine. It can take that long for someone to test positive after exposure. Trying to cut corners on that is a recipe for an outbreak.
Ohio State University has a Division 1 hockey team that plays in its own 18,000 seat arena on campus (about 4 miles from Nationwide Arena). The OSU women's team plays in a smaller arena on campus that could be used as a practice rink. Nationwide also has a practice rink attached to the arena.
In Vegas, the Golden Knights are moving their AHL affiliate into the Orleans Casino's arena, so it should have all the necessary amenities. Their practice facility has 2 rinks in it. Plus, many of the other casinos have arenas that have ice-making capabilities. The Kings used to host a preseason game at the MGM Grand every year. I'm not sure if the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV has ice-making equipment, but if it does, that would be another option.
In terms of ice quality, my understanding is that the biggest issue in maintaining good ice in the summer is humidity. That isn't a problem in Vegas. If they're going to be playing in empty rinks, they won't need to worry about body heat and can minimize the amount of time the doors are open, which will make maintaining a constant temperature easier.
I don't know about maintaining quality ice in Columbus.
In terms of scheduling, if they do what was talked about last week and resume with 24 teams split into 4 groups of 6, each team would play one additional game against the other 5 teams in their group to "finish" the regular season. That's a total of 15 games for each group of 6. I'd say that 8 days is the minimum amount of time that you could expect a team to play 5 games. If you stretch that to 10 days, you can start play on a Friday and go through the following Sunday. 15 games over 10 days in each rink shouldn't be too stressful for the ice, especially if they don't have to deal with large crowds elevating the temperature.
For the playoffs, assuming they'd still be using 2 arenas in each city for the first round (and a play-in round if they have one), they could run the two series in each arena on alternating nights. In the second round, they could move into just one arena and still run the games on alternating nights. For the third round and the Finals, you'd only have one series in each city.
I just wanted to point out that I was replying to a 2 hub scenario, which dramatically impacts the scheduling you mention.
The arenas info is well taken, certainly ohio state's facilities are adequate for playing, but what about televising?? that is the entire point at this juncture, is it not? I would be surprised if you could televise a strong product at any of the practice rinks.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL-NHLPA Return To Play Committee has remained in constant dialogue since Saturday, with the hope being to reach a resolution over the next seven to 10 days.
In the meantime I wish they would just get around to cancelling the regular season so I can pay out my pool. I know, who cares about your pool and it sounds stupid but the people in the money could probably use it right now.
I just wanted to point out that I was replying to a 2 hub scenario, which dramatically impacts the scheduling you mention.
The arenas info is well taken, certainly ohio state's facilities are adequate for playing, but what about televising?? that is the entire point at this juncture, is it not? I would be surprised if you could televise a strong product at any of the practice rinks.
I was assuming they'd be using each city as 2 hubs with 1 group of 6 teams playing out of each one rather than 4 individual hub cities. That's the only way it could work.
In Vegas, one group of 6 teams would play at Orleans Arena (or MGM or UNLV depending on ice availability) and the other would play at T-Mobile. Both hubs would use the Golden Knights' two practice rinks.
In Columbus, one group would play and practice at OSU and the other would play and practice at Nationwide.
In terms of the telecasts, here are highlights from games played at OSU and Orleans Arena...
Without people in the stands, they'd also have the option of building temporary camera positions anywhere they wanted.
There wouldn't be any games played at the practice rinks, so they don't need broadcast facilities.
For scheduling, assuming they do the plan where the six teams in each hub play each other once, they would need to schedule 15 games. Because teams wouldn't agree to play more than 2 nights in a row, it would need a minimum of 9 days to play all of the games. To do that, you wouldn't need more than 2 games on any day in the same arena (and you would have many days with only one game).
When the playoffs (or play-ins) begin, there wouldn't be more than 2 series going on at a time in each arena, so they could easily be scheduled on alternating nights with only one game in each arena per day.
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There is just no way, in my mind, that they get the players onside for this. At least not all of them. And if the NHL tries to strong-arm players, it is a PR nightmare. If they allow players to decide if they are participating or not, it undermines the season.
But if the talking heads and insiders on the radio are accurate, the NHLPA also wants this, so to say it's just the NHL strong arming the players into it isn't true. They know this affects the salary cap going forward, so it's in the player's interest as well.
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Return to Play Committee — which includes Tavares, fellow star Connor McDavid, commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, among others
I'm not sure why Tavares and McDavid are there. Does on-ice play lead to a better understanding of international legalities and negotiation?
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They both are also captains of their respective teams. Makes sense that they will be partaking in the discussion. I'd expect each team to have a rep as part of this discussion.
why don't they just do a March Madness type tournament in Vegas. Single elimination. One city, and you just power through with the top 20 teams. Forget divisions/conferences. 1 plays 20, 2 plays 19 and so on until the end. Will be a hell of alot more exciting than trying to play out a regular season with some form of playoffs at the end.
well that's just not true. European soccer leagues are about to re-start or have already re-started (Germany), and some basketball leagues are trying to come back too.
What is Gudas even talking about? The whole world is cancelling seasons? NBA? MLB? EPL? Not the ones with any TV money.
why don't they just do a March Madness type tournament in Vegas. Single elimination. One city, and you just power through with the top 20 teams. Forget divisions/conferences. 1 plays 20, 2 plays 19 and so on until the end. Will be a hell of alot more exciting than trying to play out a regular season with some form of playoffs at the end.
