2020 critical dates changing

[LadyStanley]

Draft one was fast approaching

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[LadyStanley]

6 weeks out at least

 

[ItsFineImFine]

I'm wondering why so late (July)? European leagues announced start times for much earlier, the Bundesliga is underway but even the EPL has slated for a mid-June start (not training camp but actual games) and the UK was fairly hard hit by COVID.

Surely 30+ days is not needed to get players into the right locations and have everything set up. July 10th should be the start time of the playoffs if anything. They must already have assessed where to have games and have some tangible mobilization plans in place so what is that full month+ for?

 

[LadyStanley]

Guys usually have 5-6 weeks or more of skating before camp starts through summer skates. That has just started to be available in North America.

They may have kept "in shape" but need cardio only skating provides to be prepared for rigors of skating a game.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

I'm wondering why so late (July)? European leagues announced start times for much earlier, the Bundesliga is underway but even the EPL has slated for a mid-June start (not training camp but actual games) and the UK was fairly hard hit by COVID.

Surely 30+ days is not needed to get players into the right locations and have everything set up. July 10th should be the start time of the playoffs if anything. They must already have assessed where to have games and have some tangible mobilization plans in place so what is that full month+ for?

The Bundesliga and Premier League are in an entirely different situation than North America.

They are playing at their own stadiums in countries where the infection and death rates are under control. The stadiums and training facilities were started to be extensively cleaned months ago. The government approved resumption plans months ago that simply needed to be chosen by the league. That is easier than having to choose two locations where everyone 12 teams each must be.

The Bundesliga only has 18 teams total and the Premier League only has 20. The NHL has 24. The number of people is a huge difference.

The Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga each tested every single player, staff, office member, and every single person who would be inside or outside the stadium (roughly 300 people total per game) two separate times. That verifies the health of everyone involved. The NHL hasn't done that.

The NHL hasn't been practicing together for a long time. The Bundesliga has and the Premier League was more recent. It is also easier to stay in shape for fussball than it is for ice hockey, where even if one does cardio each day it is nothing compared to the rigors of skating.

North America still has huge portions of the continent with increasing infection and death rates, England and Germany have their rates under control and are actually starting testing and tracing. In addition, most players from the Bundesliga and many Premier League players never left unlike the NHL where most players went to their off-season home. And adding on, the situation in the United States is so fluid that one governor changing their policy for pro sports provides a significant advantage or disadvantage for the host city.

30 days is more than reasonable for the NHL returning.

 

[LadyStanley]

31 Thoughts: Fun week, but high hurdles remain for NHL resumption - Sportsnet.ca

Friedman reports that NHL and NHLPA may not get the arbitrators they want due to schedule change. Also, more on June 1->July 1 delay.