NHL, NHLPA Hammer Out Protocols For Return to Play, Vote Coming Soon

The NHL has been on pause since March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but it’s on the comeback trail. Teams have had their facilities open for almost a month now for Phase 2 of their return to plan initiative and to date, 23 players have tested positive for the coronavirus since that point. The league knows about 12 other positive cases that took place away from team arenas but things continue to progress toward a return to play in the near future, which is a plus for those who are starved for some action on the ice.

As it stands right now, that return is looking more a reality with each passing day. According to ESPN, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated that the league and the NHLPA have reached an agreement on the protocols and timeline for Phases 3 and 4 of their return to play initiative. The two sides are still working on their memorandum of understanding that will lead to an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the end of the 2021-22 season.

One of the things that we know for certain, barring some massive 11th-hour flopping around, is the two hub cities. After a ton of speculation of where the league would call home for the two hubs, it’s looking as if both will come north of the border. Toronto and Edmonton are the cities that are expected to be the home cities for the season restart, which is something that has been considered as the most likely option over the last week or so. The plan, should the two sides approve the deal, would begin with training camps beginning next Monday, July 13. After that, teams would travel to their respective hub cities around July 26 to prepare for the qualification round of the postseason. That is expected to get underway on August 1.

Under the protocols hammered out, teams can bring a traveling party of no more than 52 people with them. Rosters will be capped at 31 players with no limit on the number of goaltenders. All teams have to have one physician, one social media person that can create content, one security representative and one Phase 4 compliance officer to ensure that players, etc. will be tested on a daily basis. The list of the traveling party for teams are designated to be submitted by Monday, July 13. Players that choose not to take part have the option to opt out by that point in time and will not be penalized for making that decision.

In addition to those protocols, players will be in single occupancy rooms with each team assigned to a specific floor in the hotel. They are not allowed to enter rooms of other players, though a meeting area will be provided for each team. Players can use the pool and fitness center at the hotel as long as social distancing is enforced. In addition, players, staff and anyone in the bubble must wear a mask at any time they are outside their room unless they are exercising or taking part in practice or a game. Eating and drinking also would allow masks to be removed. The league plans on creating some sort of activities for players to help break up the monotony though those are still in the works.

One of the big things is that family members are not allowed inside the bubble until at least the conference finals. That means that players could conceivably be looking at four to six weeks before seeing family members. It’s a tough sell but a sound one from the perspective of trying to keep things as safe as possible for the players. Montreal owner Geoff Molson said that players should be safe in the bubble. “The players will be pretty well-protected from being exposed. It’s going to be a completely different way for you all and us watching hockey and being around a team because players will be really well protected throughout the process.”

There is a pretty comprehensive list of protocols centered around the return for the league but when you compare it to the pushback that the NBA has dealt with, and the issues that major league baseball has had just getting to the point where they were going to have a season, you have to give credit to the NHL for getting to this point. Gary Bettman has had his fair share of issues when it comes to running the league so this is a bit of a surprise. Still, it’s refreshing to see things trending in the right direction. Let’s hope that the CBA is hammered out and things proceed in a positive direction.