Exhausting schedule for Canucks
Vancouver defeats Toronto to win first game back after recovering from COVID-19
The NHL, for the most part, has received positive marks for its management of this year’s shortened regular-season schedule due to COVID19.
However, its handling of the remainder of the Vancouver Canucks’ schedule drew criticism from some observers questioning whether the league has the players’ best interests at heart.
The Canucks were sidelined since March 30 by a COVID19 outbreak that impacted almost the entire 23-man roster. On April 10, the NHL announced the club would return to action on April 16, with the Scotia North Division schedule extended to May 16 to allow them to complete their remaining 19 games.
But on April 14, Canucks forward J.T. Miller publicly expressed his concern over he and his teammates returning to action when most hadn’t had sufficient time to fully recover. He felt they faced a greater risk of injury, especially with eight players still on the league’s protocol list at the time.
That prompted discussions between the Vancouver players, the NHL Players’ Association and the league. The Canucks return was pushed ahead to April 18, with the completion of the schedule pushed to May 19. In their first game on Sunday, they downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime.
The Canucks players remain committed to finishing the schedule despite being 10 points out of playoff contention. However, they’ll endure a gruelling 19 games in 32 days with many of them perhaps still feeling the aftereffects of COVID-19. The long-term effects upon their health remain to be seen.
GETTING CREATIVE
Several playoff contenders with limited salary cap space found creative ways to address their roster needs before the April 12 NHL trade deadline.
The Maple Leafs, for example, acquired forward Nick Foligno from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that also involved the San Jose Sharks.
The Leafs sent the Jackets their first-round pick in this year’s draft and their 2022 fourth rounder. The Sharks, meanwhile, sent forward Stefan Noesen to the Leafs in exchange for a 2021 fourthround pick.
In addition, the Jackets retained 50 per cent ($2.75 million) of Foligno’s $5.5 million salary. The Sharks retained half of the remainder ($1.375 million), meaning the Leafs would only be on the hook for the remaining $1.375 million.
The Tampa Bay Lightning also went the three-team, salary-retention route by acquiring defenceman David Savard from the Blue Jackets through the Detroit Red Wings.
Other notable deals, such as the Boston Bruins acquiring Taylor Hall from the Buffalo Sabres, saw the Sabres retain half of Hall’s $8-million cap hit.
Expect more trades like this going forward as the salary cap remains around $81.5 million for the foreseeable future.
General managers will continue exploring ingenious ways to acquire talent while working within the narrow confines of a flattened salary cap.