NHL extends self-quarantine
The NHL extended its guideline for players and staff to self-quarantine until April 15, and it’s possible the coronavirus pandemic could push that back even further.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the extension to the
Associated Press in an email Tuesday. It adds an extra 11 days to the previous guidance of April 4, which Daly last week acknowledged was “a meaningless date” because of the rapidly changing situation.
“As we get closer to the date, we’re going to have to make decisions as to what to do then,” Daly said. “We’re biting this off in chunks.”
The NHL put its season on pause March 12 with 189 regular-season games left. Commissioner Gary Bettman, above, said then he was optimistic of resuming the season and awarding the Stanley Cup.
The timeline for doing that still isn’t clear. The NHL has asked teams for arena availability dates through August, so it wouldn’t be inconceivable to see hockey last deep into the summer.
“Depending on how the country, the world handles the virus, I think there is a possibility of playing end of June, July, August,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said Monday.
President Donald Trump extended
U.S. social distancing guidelines through the end of April, and the NHL said it will also evaluate the situation 45 days into the CDC’s eight-week recommendation against gatherings of 50-plus people that runs until mid-May.
So far, four NHL players have tested positive for COVID-19.