The NHL's return-to-play scenarios have been "narrowed to two," and the "timing of when games can resume -- if they do -- likely will determine which format is used," according to a source cited by Andrew Gross of NEWSDAY. The "first scenario includes 24 teams." Under this plan, the "top four teams would play for playoff seeding and the bottom teams would have postseason play-in games." The second plan "would include only 16 teams heading straight into the playoffs, with no regular-season games salvaged" (NEWSDAY, 5/10).
INTERESTING PROPOSAL: In Toronto, Kevin McGran reported MLSE is "willing to pay for all the testing of its players, and help others in the city with testing, if Toronto becomes a hub city in the NHL’s plan to resume" the season. Ontario Premier Doug Ford was "asked whether testing millionaire athletes would negatively impact the public’s ability to get tested during the coronavirus pandemic." Ford said, “What I understand, all tests will be supplied by MLSE. The cost will be absorbed by MLSE or the NHL, whoever it might be. And I guess through that, when they set it up, then they’ll actually donate some of the time of the testing area to the public, as well." He added, "So they’re giving back to the public on top of testing their own players, which I thought was very thoughtful of them for doing that." McGran noted MLSE is "already using its staff and space at the Scotiabank Arena and BMO Field to prepare and deliver up to 13,000 meals a day for front-line workers during the pandemic" (TORONTO STAR, 5/9).
