NHL teams consider taking things outside if season gets rolling
If you thought 2020 was a year like no other in the NHL, everything beyond Jan. 1 is awash in uncertainty, too.
While last season at least made it 85 per cent through the regular schedule before COVID-19 pushed the Stanley Cup into late September, the entire 2020-21 season gets more murky by the day:
The number of games will likely be compacted to around 48, with the league caught between rampant COVID numbers preventing training camps to start and its TV deal with NBC next summer. The network has Olympic commitments in late July in Tokyo.
The league and players union still must settle on salary structure before proceeding, which took on more urgency this week when the possibility of the league cancelling the season was raised.
TSN reported Thursday night that union lawyers are considering whether to file an unfair labour practice complaint with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board or pursue a grievance with an arbitrator if the league takes that drastic action, in order to get their members paid.
Where teams could play if arenas can't allow fans took an interesting twist on Thursday. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that four teams — Anaheim, Boston, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh — are examining outdoor settings. That was augmented by a story in The Athletic that Pittsburgh, Dallas and Carolina have also been exploring that notion, going back to last month's board of governors conference call.
The Kings had the initial idea, as owners of Dignity Health Sports Park, a 27,000-seat stadium where the MLS L.A. Galaxy soccer team is based, about 25 kilometres from the Staples Center. When the Kings informed Anaheim they were looking at the location, a combined hosting effort was discussed.
Pittsburgh is checking on
Heinz Field — keeping in mind the undefeated Steelers could have NFL playoffs there next month. Boston has Fenway Park, also once used for an outdoor NHL game, while the Hurricanes have a college football stadium next to PNC Arena. A call to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment about BMO Field in Toronto, which has also hosted a game, wasn't immediately returned.
Both reports on the concept came with caution flags, as that would be a lot of rinks for the league to convert and monitor, not to mention the nuances of local weather. In a related concern, still to be determined are the makeup of divisions beyond the obvious Canadian clubs in one lodge and if multi-team bubbles will have to be brought back.
It's possible a truncated season would also see another expanded playoff format.
Last year's sudden halt to the schedule required a play-in round, in fairness to teams outside the top 16 and the unbalanced number of games played as of March 12. It increased the field to 24, and while commissioner Gary Bettman has said that won't happen again, he's been opposed in the past to widening the Stanley Cup door at all.
But it would be a chance to see how a 20-team post-season tournament would work with an eye to expansion Seattle coming in for 2021-22. Many governors won't be content by then with half a 32-team league missing the dance, not to mention management and coaching staffs of teams just missing the cut seeing their job security come under added scrutiny. The thrill of the playoff hunt for more teams wouldn't hurt league ratings late in the schedule, either.
LAFRENIERE STAYS, SWEDES READY
Hockey Canada announced late Thursday that 2020's No. 1 pick, Alexis Lafreniere, wouldn't be joining Team Canada for the world junior championship in Edmonton and Red Deer.
The door was left open in negotiations with the New York Rangers, but his NHL team has wanted him to stay at their training base to be ready if NHL camps are green lighted.
Sweden's preliminary world junior camp roster was released Thursday, led by Lucas Raymond (fourth overall pick in the draft, one of seven Detroit Red Wings on the list) and New Jersey's seventh overall pick, winger Alexander Holtz. Three first-rounders from last year, Philip Broberg (Edmonton), Victor Soderstrom (Arizona) and Tobias Bjornfot (Los Angeles), are on defence and the possible heir to Andrei Vasilevskiy in Tampa Bay's net, Hugo Alnefelt, returns after a sparkling 2019 WJC, a winning mark of 5-0-1 and .921 save percentage.
ICE CHIPS
Lightning coach Jon Cooper doesn't tire of showing off the Stanley Cup at locations around the Tampa Bay area. “It's like walking in with Mick Jagger.” ... The St. Louis Blues are keen to hire Jay Bouwmeester in a scouting capacity after the 37-year-old defenceman retires. Bouwmeester hasn't played since a cardiac episode during a game on Feb. 11. He was revived by medical personnel using a defibrillator and is considering his future ... Don't let it be said that Canadians aren't welcoming, especially to displaced tortoises. When new Vancouver goalie Braden Holtby was stuck on the U.S. side of the border a day or two without proper papers for pet tortoises Maple and Honey, Tim Hortons arranged custom-made doughnuts and hockey cards for the pair, posed with sticks, for Holtby and wife Brandi ... The AHL and its 31 teams have partnered with U.s.-based Genius Sports Group to provide real-time player stats for betting purposes. Genius has deals with the NBA and the English Premier League. Bookmakers decide what to do with the AHL information, subject to local betting laws.