NHL Offers Hope For Return Of Sports With Official Restart Plan

The NHL yesterday became the "first major North American pro sports league to unveil its formal return-to-play plan," and while the league did not guarantee it will complete this season, "there is a plan," according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said training camps will begin "not earlier than the first half of July." Seravalli noted since players have "asked for a three-week training camp," if that request "remains intact after they begin training in small groups next month, then the earliest the puck can drop is in late July or early August." Under the plan, the top 12 teams in each conference will "compete in either a seeding round-robin or a qualifying ('play-in') round to determine the 16 teams that will ultimately compete for the Stanley Cup." The remaining eight teams in each conference will "play a best-of-five series to advance to the first round of the playoffs, using overtime rules." The format of the first and second rounds of the playoffs is "still to be determined." As for where the games will be played, each conference will be "assigned a 'hub' city that is designed to operate as a bubble for players and team personnel, with secure hotels, arena, practice facilities and in-market transportation." The two hub cities will be "selected from 10 candidates" (TSN.ca, 5/26).

Download the NHL Hub City Chart

BIG-CITY POSSIBILITIES: In Chicago, Phil Thompson notes the city and L.A. were "surprise additions to the list of finalists vying to host the NHL playoffs, but it could be a challenge meeting the league’s criteria for the two cities that will act as hubs." Local authorities "likely will have to show signs infection rates are dropping -- and the league will be on alert for new waves of the disease -- as well as demonstrate they can provide enough daily COVID-19 tests for the players, and that the demand won’t come at the expense of the community" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/27). In L.A., Jack Harris writes Staples Center, which is "equipped with a dehumidification system with a built-in air cleanser, and the surrounding L.A. Live complex, which includes ample hotel space plus underground tunnel access to the arena, give the market an advantage" (L.A. TIMES, 5/27).

The NHL wants to get to a point where one or two positive tests won't derail their entire operationGETTY IMAGES

MORE DETAILS: Bettman "did not say whether fans would be allowed to attend the games, which would be broadcast on television." He added that teams "would be allowed to bring back 50 employees, including players, coaches, medical staff and club officials, all of whom will be tested for the coronavirus throughout the process" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/27). Meanwhile, ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted the NHL league office has been "really clear" that it wants to "get to a point where one or two positive tests wouldn't derail their entire operation and their entire playoffs that they stage" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/27). Bettman said the league will need to be "testing personnel, particularly the players, if not daily at least every other day.” Bettman estimated it will require between 25,000-30,000 tests and emphasized that they will not carry out their plans if the testing requirement will impact medical communities (“Today,” NBC, 5/27).

IT'S A START: THE ATHLETIC's Pierre LeBrun wrote the 24-team format announced yesterday is "just Step 1 in what remains a challenging process to see games this season." For the league, "This was really the message Tuesday: if there is hockey this season, here’s what it’s going to look like. But don’t ask us when exactly or if for sure it’s going to happen. ... That’s OK. In these unparalleled times, you couldn’t ask the NHL and NHLPA to do more just yet" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/26).

GLIMMER OF HOPE: SPORTSNET.ca's Chris Johnston wrote Bettman yesterday "offered a glimmer of hope," and that is "not something his North American-based counterparts have yet been able to do." There was a "decidedly optimistic tone to the NHL’s message despite it being delivered without ironclad guarantees, promises or even timelines" (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/26). In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont writes, "Let’s give NHL owners, and more so the rank and file stick carriers, an A-plus for effort, good intentions, and risk tolerance" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/27). In Ottawa, Don Brennan writes NHL fans "should be thankful for what happened" yesterday, as their league "has a plan to play." Brennan: "The NBA doesn’t. Neither does MLB." Not everybody will like the plan, but the league "knew that was going to be the case going in." At least they "came up with something" (OTTAWA SUN, 5/27). On Long Island, Neil Best writes under the header, "NHL's Playoff Format Isn't Perfect, But It Surely Is Welcome." Best: "Is the NHL plan weird? Yes. Is it less than ideal? Yes. Is it something everyone hopes never will happen again? Yes. But is it OK, all things considered? Yes" (NEWSDAY, 5/27). The Athletic's Richard Deitsch tweeted, "The NHL plan has a March Madness feel to it. If public health allows this to take place -- and that remains a big if -- it has the prospect of being truly awesome" (TWITTER.com, 5/26).

OTHER MOTIVES: In Edmonton, Robert Tychkowski wrote not to "call this anything other than what it is: A cash grab. Or, rather, a cash save," for NHL ownership. Still, it "makes sense from their perspective, a billion bucks is a billion bucks, but it’s starting to straddle the line between what’s good for the game and the fans and what’s good for them." The tournament, itself, "would be interesting, but it’s still just a quirky, made-for-TV series that ends with giant asterisks being etched on championship rings" (EDMONTON SUN, 5/24).