Sharks have to wait on final decisions
The NHL and NHL Players Association announced what may be a minor step toward a possible resumption of play, saying this week players might be able resume small group activities in their respective club training facilities by mid-to-late May.
If that happens, the Sharks may be stuck in limbo.
In a joint announcement Wednesday, the league and the union said no decisions have been made and no timeline has been established for a possible resumption of games. However, the announcement said with the number of coronavirus cases starting to fall in some NHL communities, “we are now looking ahead to a Phase 2 of the transition period that would follow the currently recommended Phase 1 period of ‘self-quarantine’ by Players and Hockey Staff.”
“The precise date of transition to Phase 2, during which Players might return to small group activities in NHL Club training
facilities, remains undetermined,” the statement continued. “However, provided that conditions continue to trend favorably – and, subject to potential competitive concerns as between disparately situated markets – we believe we may be able to move to Phase 2 at some point in the midto-later portion of May. Specific guidelines governing Player and Hockey Staff activity would be provided at that time.”
It appears the Sharks will have to keep their doors closed to their San Jose facility in any case. Wednesday morning, seven Bay Area Public Health Officers extended shelter in place orders, which began in midMarch, through May 31.
Although some restrictions were eased, with some outdoor activities and businesses allowed to reopen, existing requirements that people practice social distancing and leave home for only essential business and travel will remain in place.
Last month, a representative from the Santa Clara County Public Information Office told this newspaper in an email that the Sharks would need to wait for the shelter in place order to be lifted before Solar4America Ice in San Jose, where the Sharks practice and train, could reopen.
A Sharks spokesman said Thursday the organization will defer to local authorities on what they are allowed to do once a potential date for Phase 2 of the NHL’s reopening plan is finalized. Without knowing when that might be, the Sharks will have to more or less sit and wait.
General manager Doug Wilson has been in constant contact with most of all of the Sharks players. While some remain in the area, several others have returned to their home countries during the league’s pause, which began March 12.
The NHL is trying to be considerate of the competitive advantages some teams, located in areas with looser restrictions, might enjoy over others.
“Everything we do needs to be fair,” NHL Commissioner told NBCSN in early April.
The NHL paused its season a day after the NBA announced it was halting games. Earlier this week, the NBA announced it would allow teams to reopen their facilities as early as May 8 in states where that would be permitted. That date, though, could be pushed back, and a number of restrictions would apply.
If the NHL was able to get through Phase 2 of a return to play, Phase 3 would reportedly involve teams traveling to divisional sites, and possibly a determination of what a playoff format would look like. Phase 4 would be a resumption of play at those sites. NHL cities such as Edmonton and St. Paul, Minnesota have been talked about as potential places for games.
The Sharks had 12 regular season games remaining when the NHL paused its season on March 12. They sat in last place in the Western Conference and at 2936-5, remain only mathematically alive for a playoff spot should the NHL have a traditional 16-team postseason format.
“I’m a competitor, so I want to play as many games as we possibly can,” Sharks forward Evander Kane said on Ted Ramey’s podcast, which was published earlier this week. “I don’t know what may be possible and what may not be possible to finish the regular season off, but I think that’s everybody’s preference.”
“From everything I’ve heard and people I’ve talked to,” Kane added, “there’s definitely some real optimism of us resuming the season here, possibly in July and August.”