The NHL has been "making contingency plans" with the NHLPA should the spread of the coronavirus impact the league's schedule, including asking teams to "provide available dates for their buildings later in April in the event that any games have to be postponed between then and now," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. The league also has "started lining up potential neutral site venues," though that is "just in case only specific parts of the country or the continent become unsuitable to play and games have to be moved." The NHL, like the NBA, has "looked at the worst-case type of scenario, which would be playing games in empty arenas.” Many people are wondering if the coronavirus threat will impact the playoffs, which are slated to begin the first full week of April. Due to how quickly the virus is spreading, there is "some real concern that this could have an impact on the most important games of the season” (“HNIC,” Sportsnet, 3/7).
PANTHERS OWNER WANTS FANS: While the league has looked at holding games without fans present, Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola said he did not want to "play games in front of an empty arena." He said, "That would not be good for the long-term concept of crowd activity.” Viola also said he does not see the NHL postponing the schedule, though he added, "I'm not an expert on the virus and I'm not in touch with exactly the data around the contagion pattern.” He did say the "spirit amongst the leadership within our league is that we are not going to put our fans at any risk and we will be hyper conservative around this notion of distancing." Viola: "The fans come first, their safety is paramount and obviously, we don’t want to conduct an activity if we think there's even the slightest chance that that activity's going to promote the spread of (the virus)” (“Fast Money Halftime Report,” CNBC, 3/6). Meanwhile, Canucks C Bo Horvat said playing in an empty arena would be "awful." Horvat: "There would be no life. It would be dead out there. No getting the crowd going on in-game entertainment. It would be weird. I can't see myself doing it. If it comes to that, obviously I'm going to play, but it wouldn't be the same" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 3/9).
