Stanley Cup unlikely to be awarded this year
Eight-week restriction on large gatherings could push NHL season to its conclusion
Commissioner Gary Bettman announced last Thursday he hoped the coronavirus pandemic would only force a “pause” in the NHL season, but that is looking like wishful thinking.
On Sunday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
On Monday, the NHL responded with the following four steps:
1. Effective immediately, players can opt to return home (outside of the club’s home city, including outside of North America, to the extent flights are available).
2. The self-quarantine period should continue within the player’s home through and including Friday, March 27, unless a longer period may be required in accordance with local mandates related to travel. Players should continue to report immediately any symptoms or testing results to club medical staff.
3. At the end of the self-quarantine period, and depending on world developments between now and then, consideration will be given to allowing the opening of club facilities to players in scheduled and coordinated small groups for voluntary training and care of the players on the same basis as in the off-season.
4. Our objective will be that, in addition to continuing regular updates, we will be able to provide high-level guidance on the potential of opening a training camp period roughly 45 days into the 60-day period covered by the CDC’S directive.
In an interview with the NHL Network on Friday, Bettman said: “I believe that in a credible, sensible way we’ll be able to, at some point, complete the season and get through the playoffs and award the Stanley Cup.”
That is looking less likely after the most recent developments, which include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing Monday that Canada will be closing its borders to foreign travellers. Trudeau’s ruling will come into effect Wednesday with some exceptions, including U.S. citizens.
Also on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued guidelines that called for Americans to avoid social gatherings of 10 or more people and to limit discretionary travel. Trump added the U.S. might be dealing with a number of other restrictions through July or August.
Bettman has asked NHL teams to provide arena availability through the end of July, but it’s looking like the season could already be over.
Only twice in NHL history has the Stanley Cup not been awarded: in 1919 because of the Spanish flu pandemic, which ended the Cup final between the Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans with the series tied 2-2-1, and in 2005, when the entire season was wiped out after the owners locked out the players during a labour dispute.
The AHL announced Monday it has advised clubs — including the Laval Rocket — that the indefinite suspension of play will not be lifted before May and that the league is recommending teams facilitate the return of players to their primary residences.
The NHL has said players will be paid through the end of the regular season, which was scheduled to finish on April 4.
On Sunday, the Canadiens announced the implementation of measures to offset some of the financial impact of the coronavirus on the 1,200 game-day employees for the Canadiens and Rocket, including paying 75 per cent of the salary for those not eligible for employment insurance. For employees eligible for employment insurance, the Canadiens said they would enhance benefits by 40 per cent so they would receive 95 per cent of the
salary they would have received for the remaining games. The Canadiens had four home games left at the Bell Centre this season and the Rocket had eight remaining games at Place Bell.
On Monday evening, the Canadiens announced that the players have decided to offer an additional contribution to offset the difference.
“Our industry is going through a difficult time right now and our employees are being hit especially hard by recent events,” Canadiens owner/president Geoff Molson said in a statement Sunday.
“The Montreal Canadiens and Laval Rocket are deploying the means necessary to reduce the impact of this unique situation on our employees, whom I wish to sincerely thank for their collaboration and understanding.”
TSN Hockey Insider Bob Mckenzie, speaking on TSN Toronto 1050 radio Monday, said finishing the NHL regular season “is not going to happen” with the new timeline in place.
Mckenzie added a 24-team playoff, instead of 16, with some kind of a play-in format could be a possibility, taking into account teams that were on the post-season bubble and giving them a chance. Time will tell if that can happen. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Monday that Opening Day will be pushed back in accordance with the eight-week recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opening Day, which was originally scheduled for March 26, had already been postponed for two weeks last Thursday.
Bob Nightengale, an MLB columnist for USA Today, reported on Twitter Monday that several baseball GMS are bracing for a delay as late as July for Opening Day.
That’s not a good sign for the NHL’S hopes of having a Stanley Cup champion this year.
Only twice in NHL history has the Stanley Cup not been awarded.