[News] Flames initiate Phase 2 at the Saddledome. Training camp opens July 10th.

[chummer]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1273807929704099840

[MissTeeks]

Hmmm. Not a good start:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274025537535647744

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274026111836532737

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274029284907085824

[getbak]

[Jiri Hrdina]

Can this actually work? If teams can't get through these mini camps without spread - how does this work?

[Toonage]

Currently no bubble. Just groups.

Once the players make it to their hub and are quarantined thats where things are expected to be kept in check. As McKenzie also tweeted, right now players can go anywhere.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Currently no bubble. Just groups.

Once the players make it to their hub and are quarantined thats where things are expected to be kept in check. As McKenzie also tweeted, right now players can go anywhere.

Still the hub is only as good as its weakest links. All it will take is an equipment person, player or anyone in a hotel or facility bringing in the virus and it will probably explode like wildfire. I'm coming to the sad realization that team sports may be impossible to pull off in this climate. I'm sure the NFL is going to give it a try but football seems even more difficult with the large rosters, large coaching staffs, equipment handlers, etc.

[transplant99]

No surprise there are issues with teams in Florida, its a bit of a debacle down there.

Phillies are holding some training there as well and they too have an outbreak.

Get away from there and into some controlled environments and things should be a little easier to get a grasp on.

Still many a roadblock ahead ad im not sure there is any better odds than 50/50 this gets pulled off, but they have to get into the hubs to have any chance at all.

[chummer]

Didn't see this coming-

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274016279062441984

[getbak]

Is that legit? I saw Loubardias retweeted it, but the account only has 3 tweets.

[AC]

Not his real Twitter account anymore after getting hacked.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274039074362470403

[Roof-Daddy]

Edmonton makes sense. None of the players or hockey personnel will ever be tempted to jump quarantine and leave their hotels to go out into the city.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by getbak

Is that legit? I saw Loubardias retweeted it, but the account only has 3 tweets.

Ya, no. Not legit, not his real account.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by getbak

Is that legit? I saw Loubardias retweeted it, but the account only has 3 tweets.

Even if it was a legitimate account, is there any good reason to take anything that Jim Matheson says seriously? Loubardias may respect him, but I sure as hell do not see any good reason to do so.

[transplant99]

And another nail in an ever quickly closing coffin

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274042733154492418

[united]

Second tournament back for the PGA

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274045401012658176

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274025718490546178

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274042733154492418

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274047170107367424

[Torture]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And another nail in an ever quickly closing coffin

https://twitter.com/user/status/1274042733154492418

How surprising.

[Textcritic]

Double post. Sorry.

[Textcritic]

I have been hopeful but highly sceptical that NA professional sports leagues would find a way to return to play safely this summer. These recent news bits confirm some of my earliest doubts, and I find myself wondering once again at what point does the NHL just cancel the 2019–20 season? It is starting to feel inevitable, once again.

The only good news in this would be another year without playoff hockey for the Edmonton Oilers: Fourteen years and only one playoff berth.

Edmonton is no good.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I have been hopeful but highly sceptical that NA professional sports leagues would find a way to return to play safely this summer. These recent news bits confirm some of my earliest doubts, and I find myself wondering once again at what point does the NHL just cancel the 2019–20 season? It is starting to feel inevitable, once again.

The only good news in this would be another year without playoff hockey for the Edmonton Oilers: Fourteen years and only one playoff berth.

Edmonton is no good.

They won't cancel IMO. I expect all teams based in southern MAGA states to be higher risk (Florida, Texas, Tennessee...)
Once the teams are in isolation, risk will be minimal.

[direwolf]

Kevin Bieksa and Patrick Kane were interviewed a few days ago, and are basically telling fans not to get too excited, as there are still several issues that need to be hammered out.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...ill-skeptical/

Phase 2 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan is underway and the league announced last week that Phase 3, formal training camps, will open July 10.
Despite the growing optimism among hockey fans, former NHL defenceman and current hockey analyst Kevin Bieksa is skeptical because a number of details remain up in the air.





“A lot of friends that I have and a lot of people that I’ve talked to that are going to be playing, they still don’t have their equipment, they still haven’t skated, they’re still very skeptical,” Bieksa told Sportsnet 650 on Monday. “They haven’t been told anything by their team, so I’m skeptical. I obviously want hockey back. I’d love to cover some games and watch it on TV and get everything back to normal but I wouldn’t jump the gun if I were the fans. I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much yet.”

A potential date for Phase 4 of the league’s return-to-play plan (meaning when the games actually resume) has not been determined.


“There’s so much to figure out,” Bieksa said. “Not only with the safety measures and protocol and everything but I don’t even know if it’s been discussed with the (NHLPA) and the league how they’re going to divide HRR (hockey-related revenue). Like, usually, historically the players play for free in the playoffs and the bonuses that they get are paid for by themselves.



Well there’s no money, so you’re telling me players are going to come back, leave their families, sacrifice now and get no money for it? Like, how’s that going to work? So, that’s a pretty big negotiation right there that hasn’t even been discussed yet.”


Bieksa’s comments echoed some of what Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane had to say on a video conference call this past Thursday.
Kane said that while he and his colleagues are excited to get back to playing there are still a number of important elements the players have yet to officially sign off on.


“I think we have to be pretty cautious about that,” Kane said. “I know the NHL has put out updates and what not, but I think as players, nothing has been agreed to yet. There’s a long way to go before we reach a certain agreement where we would want to come back and play and feel safe enough and feel like it’s the right deal for us to come back.



Obviously, we’re in the process of doing that and it’s an ongoing process, but I think we have to be cautious about talking about certain dates and coming back when nothing is settled as of yet. It’s still ongoing and hopefully it gets figured out.”

"There’s a bunch of different things, whether it’s playing at the time we’re playing, when next year’s going to start, what our offseasons will look like down the road, a bunch of other things. But I just think the NHL is putting out these dates and I think, as players, we’re taking a step back and saying, ‘Why are these dates being put out when we haven’t really agreed to anything yet?’ … People are starving for sports. We would love to be able to give that to them, but, like I said, we want it to be fair.”