‘Unique situation’ won’t affect next NHL season
BETTMAN EXPECTS ‘NORMAL’ 2020-21, NO MATTER HOW CURRENT YEAR PLAYS OUT
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 current 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 building 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 30C.
With a longer range look, the league wants events such as the draft in Montreal, now scheduled for June 26-27, not 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. 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 in Detroit). I concluded it was only a matter of time before one of our players tested positive if we continued to play.”
NHL: 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 Friday a similar memo is being sent.
MORE DARK ARENAS
To the long list of pro leagues which have declared a halt in play, Finland’s Liga pulled the plug Thursday. In Europe, that only leaves only the KHL running, which actually was the first league 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, no doubt disappointing many amateur scouts.
ICE CHIPS
A part-time employee at San Jose’s SAP Center, who last worked at a game on March 3 against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, tested positive for COVID- 19, the Sharks announced Friday. He has recovered ... Scratch the Hockey Hall of Fame off the list of spring break attractions for kids and families. The museum and 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 at Prudential Center and other arena events. “Employees are family, it’s important to band together and lift each other up during these times.” read a statement. Harris and Blitzer also own the Philadelphia 76ers and Crystal Palace FC of the Premier League ... Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is to 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.