No firm date for puck drop next season
Don’t circle Dec. 1 on your calendar for the start of the next NHL season.
It sounds doubtful that’s going to happen.
While the NHL is working with a timetable that sets out Nov. 17 as the start date for training camp, with plans to get next season underway on Dec. 1, the league is keeping its options open.
The NHL wants to wait until the Stanley Cup is awarded before making any decisions on next season.
“We haven’t made any decisions on next season yet,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Postmedia in an email Wednesday. “We still have some time to do that.”
Right now, it’s anybody’s guess when next season will start.
Speaking on the Bob Mccown podcast with former Hockey Night in Canada producer John Shannon, NHL vice-president Colin Campbell indicated every scenario is being studied because the threat of the novel coronavirus isn’t showing any signs of going away.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is looking at this from every angle. Campbell confirmed the league is even studying an all-canadian division. Nothing can be ruled out.
“I think we have to stand back and Gary needs to talk to the owners,” Campbell said in an interview posted Wednesday. “Where do you go from here, and where do you want to go from here? And under what aspect and conditions do we look at playing again?
“What happens with COVID? I, for one, thought we would be through a lot of this by now, and it just keeps coming back to haunt us.”
That’s an issue all leagues are facing. The NFL kicked off a new season on Thursday night with the Houston Texans visiting Kansas City. The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs were allowing only 16,000 people in their 80,000seat stadium. Masks had to be worn, proper social-distancing rules were to be followed, and fans were told to stay in their sections.
In the NCAA, the 11 Division 1 hockey leagues announced Thursday they have agreed to postpone the start of the season. There were reports on Thursday the NBA has told its owners not to expect a return to action before Christmas.
Ideally, the NHL wants to start with fans in the stands, but will that be realistic in December? The NFL plays mostly in outdoor stadiums, whereas NHL spectators have to be comfortable watching the game indoors.
The NHL has done modelling for proper social distancing that would allow fans into the building, but the league would first have to get approval in Canada for gatherings that large. There’s also the issue of the border between the United States and Canada being closed to non-essential travel — another major stumbling block.
Playing through the summer next year isn’t an option because the plan is for the Olympics to begin in late July. The players are opposed to starting the season in bubble cities. However, that may change if they decide it’s going to cost them too much money.
At this point, there are more questions than answers.
OFF THE GLASS
■ If Bruins defenceman Torey Krug goes to market, and it looks like he will, there will be no shortage of interest. He can run the power play and every team is looking for offence from its back end. Don’t be surprised if the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils are among the teams to make a pitch.
■ There will be no shortage of goalies available this summer. Naturally, Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray is on a lot of radar screens.
■ The Rangers will try to move veteran goalie Henrik Lundqvist, but that’s going to be easier said than done. He has a year left on his contract at US$8.5 million.