‘Normal season’ expected in 2020-21, Bettman says
Gary Bettman can’t tell people how the 2019-20 season will end.
But unless COVID -19 is still raging in the summer, he’s counting on 2020-21 to begin on time and run its usual course.
Read between the lines of the commissioner’s comments Friday on Sportsnet and it’s obvious the NHL has a time frame in mind where the pandemic either shortens or fully scrubs the current campaign. In the case of the former, to ensure a Stanley Cup winner, it would mean moving to playoffs without completing all scheduled games or revising the post-season format.
“Whatever we do with this season, I’m expecting next season to be a normal season,” Bettman said. “First of all, this is a unique situation, it transcends the NHL, it transcends sports. This is hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime thing for all of us. We are looking at every contingency and what’s doable, so everything is on the table for consideration. (But) it doesn’t mean they’re going to happen. What’s an option today, there may be different options, fewer or more, who knows, by next week.”
So, just because teams are looking at arena availability in July, it’s part of their due diligence and not a guarantee the league intends to risk playing on potentially chippy ice in hot spots such as Tampa, Dallas and Washington where average summer temperatures are more than 30 C.
The league also doesn’t want events such as the draft in Montreal, now scheduled for June 26-27, to be competing with playoffs, nor the July 1 start of free agency and the new fiscal year.
IN COURT CONCERT?
Bettman was also asked whether the NHL would return to play when the NBA does or vice versa, given his decision to shutter came less than 24 hours after the hoopsters’ move. Teams in the two leagues share many arenas.
“We both have to make our own decisions (though) we’re relying on the same medical information,” Bettman said. “The real issue — and we’ve already agreed to do it — we’re making sure we’re not tripping over each other as we try and schedule when we both come back.
“One of the factors in my decision Wednesday night was there were a couple of (NHL) teams in the visiting locker-room where the Utah Jazz (and the infected Rudy Gobert) used the same room (the Capitals in Madison
Square Garden and the Lightning in Boston and Detroit). I concluded it was only a matter of time before one of our players tested positive if we continued to play.”
NHL TO PLAYERS: STAY PUT
NHL players are back in their home team cities and urged to remain there by the league, but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Friday that some can return to families based elsewhere.
“Obviously, where a player is separated from his family because his club city residence is only temporary, those players should be permitted to go home in this initial phase of the pause period,” Daly said.
No green-light date has been given for players to return to club facilities and begin training. Some will likely go stir crazy by Monday.
“We envision there coming a time where we transition from ‘stay at home’ to opening club facilities to work out and skate on a voluntary basis in small groups, similar to what we generally see prior to training camps,” Daly said. “At this point, I’m not in a position to say when that will be. We will see how the next week or so plays out.”
Daly is not insisting on mandatory COVID -19 testing for players at this time, unless they show symptoms. Don Fehr, executive director of the NHLPA, told The Associated Press on Friday that a similar memo is being sent.
MORE DARK ARENAS
To the long list of pro leagues that have declared a halt in play, add Finland’s Liga. In Europe, that leaves only the KHL running, which was affected by COVID -19 weeks ago when a few home games for Kunlun Red Star in Beijing were moved to Russia.
The IIHF also announced the world under-18 championship, scheduled for April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Mich., has been cancelled.
ICE CHIPS
A part-time employee at San Jose’s SAP Center, who last worked at a game on March 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, tested positive for COVID-19, the Sharks said Friday. He has recovered ... Scratch the Hockey Hall of Fame off the list of spring break attractions for families. The home of the Stanley Cup announced a COVID-19 related closure beginning Saturday through at least April 6 ... New Jersey Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer joined teams planning to pay hourly/event staff for postponed games and other arena events ... Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is donating US$100,000 to all part-time staff at Florida’s BB&T Center during the pause. Teammates will match that with ownership putting in the balance.