Sharks wait for definitive rulings
Public health limits appear in opposition to league, union remarks
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 midto-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 mid- March, through May 31.
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.
The NHL is in no rush to return from its shutdown,
Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Thursday that the end of the current season could push back the start of next season as far as December.
Speaking on NHL Network, Bettman said, “We have a great deal of flexibility in terms of when we can start. There’s no magic for next season of starting in October as we traditionally do. If we have to start in November or December, that’s something that will be under consideration.
“We’re going to try to make good, prudent, careful judgments. This isn’t a race to be first back. When we come back, we want it to be at the right time, for the right reasons, under the right circumstances.”
“We’d like to be able to get our training facilities open. We’d like our guys to be able to work themselves back into shape. But this is something we’re going to continue to evaluate on a day-to- day basis.”
According to Bettman, the state of the pandemic isn’t the only factor in terms of the potential restart of the season.
“Our health concerns for the players really fit into two categories: One is obviously COVID-19, and two, whatever we’re going to do, we don’t want them playing games until they’re back in game shape,” the commissioner said. “So we’re going to continue to monitor things, and when the guidance from the medical people is right and the governmental authorities are comfortable, then we’ll take step one, which is reopening our training facilities.”
General manager Doug Wilson has been in constant contact with most 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.
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, Minn., 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 29-36- 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.” SHARKS GOALIE » The Sharks are close to signing KHL goalie Alexei Melnichuk, Sport24 in Russia reported.
The Sharks were believed to be among four teams in the race to sign Melnichuk, whose contract with St. Petersburg of SKA was set to expire Thursday. Other teams in the mix were the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche. The Sharks have not confirmed that a contract with Melnichuk is in place.
Melnichuk, 21, had a .930 save percentage and a 1.68 goalsagainst average in 16 games this season. Given Melnichuk’s age and limited professional experience, he likely would need time to develop in the AHL.