Sounds less likely that Canadian health authorities will allow the Canadian teams to play without a hub.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Sources say the 5 provinces have requested additional testing procedures, or have asked the NHL to consider a “bubble” model. If bubble isn’t an option for NHL, sources say a delay to start of season has also been suggested. The NHL is working on a response. Ongoing discussions.
Good.
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Sounds less likely that Canadian health authorities will allow the Canadian teams to play without a hub.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Sources say the 5 provinces have requested additional testing procedures, or have asked the NHL to consider a “bubble” model. If bubble isn’t an option for NHL, sources say a delay to start of season has also been suggested. The NHL is working on a response. Ongoing discussions.
Very short sighted for something with very minimal risk of covid spread. The players will be tested every day. Of course a bubble will not happen. The players will never accept that for obvious reasons. People are allowed to go to the ski hill but NHL players with stricter guidelines are not allowed to do their jobs?
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If the levels of government really want people to stay at home and not socialize, having some live hockey to spend the time watching might actually help.
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If the levels of government really want people to stay at home and not socialize, having some live hockey to spend the time watching might actually help.
I was going to post a similar thing. I get the optics of the double standard but it in practice or reality might help things.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
It’s expected the NHL will respond to the provincial governments today, however, it’s believed the league has approval to move forward with the season in all 7 Canadian cities.
Basically they want to expand testing beyond just players/staff which the NHL is proposing. They want the NHL to regularly test anyone in close contact (e.g. family members). This would be a significant cost to the NHL. They also want the schedule to be more blocky to reduce travel.
If the NHL is unwilling to do that then they want a hub format. And if the NHL is unwilling to do that they want them to delay the season.
Can’t see this being a problem to get the season started on time. No way they will go bubble. The little extra things provinces need to have games in hone arenas doesn’t seem that bad. Re do schedule and add more testing.
I wonder how teams plan to handle their goaltending when it comes to taxi squad/ roster. Will we be seeing teams carrying three rostered goalies and one taxi squad goalie, or likely two taxi squad goalies? If say the goalie coach or one of the goalies, gets Covid the teams have to have a plan. Keep the 3rd goalie (if rostered) totally sequestered all season until he is needed? Keep the taxi squad goalie in total self isolation in case Covid rips through the taxi squad?
I think of the Denver Broncos quarterback disaster from earlier this NFL season where all their quarterbacks were close contacts of a known case. Could we see a D man playing goal this season?
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Having hub cities makes the most sense to reduce risk and costs. I imagine it's the players that are the opposing party on that front. When push comes to shove, I think they would have to accept it though.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
On the basis of our discussions in the past week, as well as our exchange of correspondence over the last 24 hours, we believe we are aligned and in agreement on the conditions on which each of our Canadian franchises can play in their own buildings for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season.
I think goaltending will be the x factor. Especially since there is going to lot of back to backs, having a good combo of goalies will be important. Also, with a shorter season fatigue is less likely to be an issue. For that reason I think Montreal suprises people, they don't have to worry about wearing out price. The Flames also have one of the strongest goalie combos, this is going to help them lots.
Renaud Lavoie @renlavoietva
It’s a go ! The NHL received officially the green light from the Federal government and the 5 provinces (with NHL teams on their territories) to start the season January 13.
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Blaster86 is NOT a troll. Don't give him the satisfaction and attention he craves.
Well, now I am confuse. Clearly, we have found out he does not have a sense of humour. Now you say he is NOT a troll. But, he does crave satisfaction via attention? So he WANTS to be a troll but is not up to that standard? I can see that. So, kinda like an ogre or elf or something? Ok.
Thanks!
edit to add: I just realized that now I am, in fact, trolling Blaster86. Which means we have come full circle. Again. That is some Alannis Irony right there, I tells 'ya.
