The Ditch part deux

There must be a 'window' somewhere in the higher ups heads of how long they can wait to get things started... makes me wonder if the end is fast approaching or the window is just about closed.

 

It would be nice if they could play at different hubs and try to schedule it so teams didn't have to move between hubs often to finish their schedule. Unfortunately the areas that can take the volume aren't the safest. The New York hub could have New Jersey, MSG, Brooklyn and Long Island as a hub but we know how crazy it is there. All NHL facilities.

The Toronto hub could have Toronto x2, Hamilton and maybe Mississauga if they could handle what is needed. Easy for each team to have a practice hub too.

LA works similarly with LA, Anaheim, Ontario and possibly Bakersfield or San Diego. The only other areas I can think of is Illinois/Wisconsin area focused on Chicago where the Blackhawks, Wolves play plus Rockford, Milwaukee and Madison where the Wisconsin Badgers play. Or Ottawa/Montreal/Laval.

I don't think this would happen though. None of those places are especially safe. Too much population but that is expected. Other places might not have the resources though.

 

NHL looking at 8-9 sites as options to restart season, Commissioner says
League considering places that can safely accommodate 'dozen or so teams in one location'

The NHL is looking at "probably eight or nine different places" that can accommodate "a dozen or so teams in one location" as it explores options for resuming the season, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday.

The Commissioner participated in a digital keynote interview with Leaders Week, a sports business conference originally scheduled to be held in New York, to discuss the League's efforts since pausing the season due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"I don't think anybody has a fixed timetable, particularly in North America right now," Commissioner Bettman said. "We have been working very hard since we took the pause on March 12 to make sure that whatever the timing is, whatever the sequencing is, whatever physical ability we have in terms of locations to play, that we're in a position to execute any or all of those options. There is still a great deal of uncertainty."

The Commissioner said the NHL would need to resolve border and quarantine issues to reconvene the players, 17 percent of whom are outside North America, the rest of whom are spread around the continent.

If the NHL uses centralized locations, it probably would need the ability to play multiple games per day without fans. NHL arenas are best suited for that because of their back-of-the-house facilities, such as multiple locker rooms that can be sanitized as teams move in and out.

The League also would need the hotel space to house teams and the capacity to test personnel for COVID-19 without doing so at the expense of the medical community.

"I am told that there can be enough capacity, and certainly over the next couple of months, there will be more capacity," Commissioner Bettman said. "But that is a fundamental question, and we certainly can't be jumping the line in front of medical needs."

The Commissioner said the NHL and the NHL Players' Association have been extraordinarily collaborative. They have formed a Return to Play Committee of executives and players that has held regular digital meetings.

"Do we complete the regular season when we're given the opportunity?" Commissioner Bettman said. "Do we do an abbreviated regular season, because our competitive balance is so extraordinary, it's hard to tell how the season would have ended? Do we go right to the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs and in what form?

"And if we're not playing in front of fans, which at least in the short term seems [likely], do we do it in a centralized location or locations? And if so, what places might be suitable from a COVID-19 standpoint in terms of the communities that you're in and how big the outbreak is? And what is the availability of testing? And so that requires a collaboration with our medical advisers.

"And I believe that all of the major sports in North America are going through this same exercise, and while the medical and health issues are probably to some extent the same for all of us, the logistics of what we do and how we do it may be a little different depending on the sport."

The NHL has the flexibility to finish this season by playing in the summer and to delay the start of next season as late as December while playing a full schedule.

"We'd like to complete this season," Commissioner Bettman said. "We'd like to award the Stanley Cup, the most treasured trophy and the most historic trophy in all of sports. And our fans are telling us overwhelmingly that's what they'd like us to do, because people have an emotional investment in this season already."

Commissioner Bettman said he believes large gatherings will come back quickly once the medical community has determined the best treatment for COVID-19 and there is a prospect of a vaccine. The Commissioner mentioned the possibility of masks, sanitizers and different seating configurations initially.

"Everything we're hearing from our fans is that they're [eager] to get back, and we don't take that for granted, which is why we will do what the medical people tell us is necessary and appropriate for us to do to bring fans back," Commissioner Bettman said. "And again, everything we do is going to be governed by the doctors, the medical people and by governments at all levels, which will tell us what is and isn't appropriate for us to do.

"So a lot of our planning and a lot of the issues we're confronting ultimately are going to be resolved for us by other people, whether it's physicians or whether it's governmental leaders, and that's why we have to be doing a lot of contingency planning so we can react to whatever they're telling is us appropriate and permissible."

Commissioner Bettman said he was very optimistic and hopeful for the sports industry in the long term. Sports, he said, bring people together and help them heal.

"I think the major sports and their franchises will get through this and will come back as strong as ever," the Commissioner said. "It's just a question of time."

NHL.com

 

I don't think this would happen though. None of those places are especially safe. Too much population but that is expected. Other places might not have the resources though.


I agree Joe.............Logistics are a Nightmare......Cancel NHL 2020 and get ready for October with Fans.

 

Bingo. We can't avoid one asterisk, on this season. Let's make sure we don't add an asterisk to next season, too. Don't screw next season up to try and hold some poor excuse for a disconnected tournament this season.

 

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association continue working toward a plan to restart the 2019-20 season. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the latest idea revolves around a 24-team, conference-based format.

There remains plenty for the two sides to figure out, but the framework of a format will be discussed when the NHLPA executive committee meets on Thursday.

How will it work?
First, the top four seeds in each conference will be based on points percentage as of the March 12 NHL pause. That means Boston, Tampa, Washington, Philadelphia in the East, and St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas, and Dallas in the West. Those eight teams would get a bye through the first round of playoffs, which would be a best-of-five series featuring seeds 5 through 12. From there, the winners of those eight series would move into the traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoff bracket featuring best-of-seven series.

As the play-in games are going on, the top four seeds in each conference will participate in a three-game tournament, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. It’s yet to be determined if those guys will have any impact on seeding, but it would act as a way to get into game shape.

The playoff picture
Here’s what the format, which will need to be approved by the teams and players, would look like:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Bruins
2. Lightning
3. Capitals
4. Flyers

PLAY-IN
Penguins (5) vs. Canadiens (12)
Hurricanes (6) vs. Rangers (11)
Islanders (7) vs. Panthers (10)
Maple Leafs (8) vs. Blue Jackets (9)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Blues
2. Avalanche
3. Golden Knights
4. Stars

PLAY-IN
Oilers (5) vs. (Blackhawks (12)
Predators (6) vs. Coyotes (11)
Canucks (7) vs. Wild (10)
Flames (8) vs. Jets (9)

Following that first round, the top seed in each conference would play the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 series and the No. 2 seed would face the victor of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 series. The third seed would meet the No. 6 vs. No. 11 winner and the fourth seed would await either the No. 5 or No. 12 seed.

The games would be played in two hub cities with no fans in attendance. While there’s lot to work out logistically to pull off, sliding a playoff format would be a good first step in potentially restarting the season.

“There’s a bunch of different formats being talked about. It’s hard to really say what the leader is just because things can change,” said Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk, a member of the Return to Play Committee. “Nothing’s really certain until it’s certain. Things can change so quickly and they have on different things, things that were looked at early on, without getting into too much detail, are beyond feasible now. There’s different things that can change, so it’s hard to say that there’s a real leader.

“We’re trying to keep as many options open and navigate through different things and hopefully come up with a vision that obviously first and foremost ensures the health and safety of everyone. Then from there, it’s trying to find one that keeps the integrity and competitiveness that’s so great about our game and so great about the Stanley Cup.

NBC

 

The playoff picture
Here’s what the format, which will need to be approved by the teams and players, would look like:


I don't think this is going to happen Will...........too bad so sad........wow the Habs vs the Pens.....Canucks vs the Wild.

Do you know when the NHLPA will be voting ???

 

Reps from all teams started meeting yesterday... we could know by this evening.

 

NHLPA board approves 24-team, return-to play-format

We have our first step towards resuming the 2019-20 season with the approval of the return-to-play format by the NHLPA Executive Board.

The 31 NHL team representatives voted and a majority gave the thumbs up to the 24-team, conference-based proposal.

According to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the vote was 29-2 in favor.

Now the plan moves on to the Board of Governors for their approval.

From the NHLPA:

The Executive Board of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) has authorized further negotiations with the NHL on a 24-team return to play format to determine the winner of the 2020 Stanley Cup. Several details remain to be negotiated and an agreement on the format would still be subject to the parties reaching agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play.

If the BOG green lights it, the next steps would include figuring out proper safety protocols for all involved and how the hub city plan would work, among numerous other details.

Games would be played without fans with teams based in hub cities potentially located in both the U.S. and Canada. Columbus, Las Vegas, and Edmonton are a few of the cities that have shown interested in playing host to playoff games.

Since the 24-team format entered the rumor mill, it’s received a mixed reaction from players.

“Twenty-four teams sounds like a lot of teams to me,” Capitals defenseman John Carlson told Mike Tirico on Thursday. “You have to make sure there is some level playing field in terms of intensity…So while 24 teams sounds like a lot, maybe due to logistics, that makes the most sense.”

“I will say that when it comes to the format I think it is almost impossible to make everyone happy … the situation is what it is,” Lars Eller of the Capitals said via the Washington Post. “It is far from perfect. We are going to manage the best we can and I do think we will come together and find a solution regarding that. It is not going to be easy.”

Kris Letang told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that Penguins players voted “yes” on the proposal citing “greater good for everyone.”

“At the end of the day, nobody gets exactly what they want,” Letang said. “But, we all want what is best for hockey and to continue to grow the game.”

NBC

 

NHL targets early June for Phase 2 of return to play plans

The NHL announced a plan to enter Phase 2 of its return to play protocols, with hopes of taking the step by early June. If you enjoy staggeringly detailed documents, then this is your tonic.

To clarify, Phase 1 involved players and others entering self-quarantine. Phase 2 involves small groups of players (the league specifies six players, with a limited number of staff) returning to team facilities for noncontact skating sessions.

The league didn’t detail exactly when Phase 2 will begin (again, the goal is “early June”). Early June indicates that the NHL could theoretically begin Phase 2 as early as next week, though.

It’s not clear how long Phase 2 might last for the NHL, either. As detailed as the league’s plan is, there’s still an air of “to be determined.” The NHL didn’t publicly announce dates for Phase 3 (training camp) or Phase 4 (a return to play) in the memo.

Some more details on how the NHL plans to handle Phase 2
Depending upon how a player arrives at team facilities, it might be necessary to go into 14-day quarantine before entering team facilities. The NHL’s testing guidelines get a bit granular, so Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston shares some details that simplify and clarify certain aspects:

With the NHL looking to transition to Phase 2 (small group workouts) as soon as next week, it's clear those voluntary sessions will be fairly restricted. Six players max in the team facility at a time and no coaching involvement for on-ice work.


Chris Johnston

✔@reporterchris
Of note: Players and team staff will be given a COVID-19 nasal swab test two days before starting Phase 2 training, and then will be tested at least twice per week afterwards. They must also self-administer a temperature and symptom check every day.

The memo also shares how players from other teams can access facilities if they live nearby.

The NHL emphasizes more than once in the Phase 2 memo that safety and fairness are top priorities. The league also includes this explanation around testing:

As an overriding principle, testing of asymptomatic Players and Club personnel must be done in the context of excess testing capacity, so as to not deprive health care workers, vulnerable populations and symptomatic
individuals from necessary diagnostic tests (“Publicly Necessary Testing”).

Again, there are still plenty of other details to iron out before taking the next steps. Consider some of the major issues still dangling:

• To reiterate, the NHL still must determine the actual start time for Phase 2. We don’t yet know how long it will last.
• Phase 3 (training camp) and Phase 4 (actual return to play) must also be determined.
• When will the 2020 NHL Draft happen? How will the draft lottery be determined?
• The NHL and NHLPA agreed upon a basic layout for a 24-team playoff format. There are still plenty of specifics to iron out, though.

NBC

 

• To reiterate, the NHL still must determine the actual start time for Phase 2. We don’t yet know how long it will last.
• Phase 3 (training camp) and Phase 4 (actual return to play) must also be determined.
• When will the 2020 NHL Draft happen? How will the draft lottery be determined?
• The NHL and NHLPA agreed upon a basic layout for a 24-team playoff format. There are still plenty of specifics to iron out, though.

Will..............4 Phases WTF........sorry but this ain't going happen.

 

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will join Mike Tirico to make a formal announcement regarding the NHL return date for the 2019-20 season as part of a live hour-long special today at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

While there are still details to work out, the NHL made key return-to-play announcements on Tuesday. The highlights include: how the 24-team playoff format works, potential choices for two “hub cities,” and information on the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery.

This post revolves around the 24-team playoff format and hub cities. Click here for more on the NHL’s return-to-play procedures for Phase 2.

One of the most important bits of new information is that NHL aims for formal training camps “no earlier than the first half of July.” We’ll get to that, and more, below.

NHL shares basic timeline to get through return-to-play phases; two hub cities details
Shortly after the pandemic pause, the NHL entered “Phase 1” of a return-to-play plan: players and staff practicing self-quarantining. The NHL shared the framework for the other return-to-play phases:

Phase 1: Pause and self-quarantine. Regular season considered over. The NHL instituted the pandemic pause on March 12, with the regular season marked as ending as of March 11. The top 12 teams from each conference enter the 24-team playoff format, with positioning based on points percentage.

Phase 2: Noncontact skating for players in small groups at team facilities. The hopeful starting date for Phase 2 is early June. Again, this post covers the key points; if you want to read the 22-page NHL document, have at it.

Phase 3: Formal training camps starting “no earlier than the first half of July.”

Phase 4: 24-team playoff (including seeding games, play-in rounds) must still be determined.

The NHL also shared details on the two “hub cities” setup, including potential host cities:

– Chicago, IL

– Columbus, OH

– Dallas, TX

– Edmonton, AB

– Las Vegas, NV

– Los Angeles, CA

– Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

– Pittsburgh, PA

– Toronto, ON

– Vancouver, BC

* Each Conference is assigned a “hub” city with secure hotels, arena, practice facilities and in-market transportation.

* Teams will be limited to 50 personnel in the “hub” city with only a small number of support staff permitted to enter the event areas.

* Timing and sites will be determined at a future date and will be dependent on COVID-19 conditions, testing ability and government regulations.

How the 24-team playoff format works
The NHL shared the “competitive format” for the 24-team playoff setup in its return-to-play announcement. As you can see, “the round robin” pertains to the seeding for the top four teams in each conference. The “qualifying round” has previously been referred to as a “play-in” round. City 1 represents Eastern Conference teams, while City 2 will include the West.

Competitive Format

* In each Conference, teams seeded by points percentage.

Round Robin: The top 4 teams play for First Round seeding (regular-season overtime rules in effect)

Qualifying Round: The remaining 8 teams play best-of-5 series to advance to the First Round (playoff overtime rules in effect)

First Round and Second Round: Format (seeding vs. bracket) and series lengths to be determined

Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final: Best-of-7 series

* The winners from the Qualifying Round play the top 4 seeds in the First Round. Individual First Round series matchups remain to be determined.

NBC

 

Barring any unforeseen event, it looks like we are going to have Summer pucks.

 

NHL return date for the 2019-20 season as part of a live hour-long special today at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.


The 2019/2020 season has been official cancelled........now Bettman will try in VAIN to get a Playoff schedule.

 

The draft lottery is interesting.
1 Red Wings
18.5%

2 Senators
13.5%

3 Senators
11.5% (Pick acquired from San Jose)

4 Kings
9.5%

5 Ducks
8.5%

6 Devils
7.5%

7 Sabres
6.5%

And here are the lottery odds for the remaining eight placeholder teams:

• Team A: 6.0%
  
• Team B: 5.0%
• Team C: 3.5%
• Team D: 3.0%
• Team E: 2.5%
• Team F: 2.0%
• Team G: 1.5%
• Team H: 1.0%

That is a 24.5% chance that a playoff play-in team wins the draw.
That is nothing new as these are the same odds as every other year since Vegas joined and one of those teams has moved into the top 3 in each year since. The only time it didn't happen was the 1st year of the 3 lottery pick format when the Leafs got Matthews. This is irrelevant to the teams that are in the bottom 7 but the new rules have a twist for those so called "Teams A-H". If one or more teams winners are the placeholder teams then each 1st round loser will have an EQUAL chance at that spot. A 12.5% chance or 1-in-8 odds. Only after the top 3 picks are determined will the remaining teams be slotted based on regular season points percentage.


The team this sucks for most is the Sabres who needed ANY type of win in their next game vs Montreal to bounce them from the playoffs and take their place. Instead they miss out, while the Penguins could win the lottery.

 

Why so negative, VV? The season wasnt cancelled either... it was deemed completed. All systems and personal are pushing for a playoff so that the toughest trophy in sports can be handed out. Someone will raise the Cup before the '20/21 season gets under way. Im glad too... I understand these are tough times, but under proper screening/care/guidance and medical leadership, this isnt impossible.

 

I’m psyched for the league coming back. I don’t see this as an asterisk at all, in fact I think winning this Cup will be even more special. Some teams kind of get screwed while even more teams make out in this. Whatever, let’s get this thing rolling. Of course I’m speaking only as a fan and not really taking the players and rink staff’s health in to consideration.

 

I'm cautious. Of course I'd love to see hockey come back, but I just see so many potential pitfalls. I have a hard time envisioning ever really feeling good about the results of all this. This postseason tournament would be so removed from the normal course of regular season activities... It just feels odd.

I've been a proponent of just cancelling and moving on. I won't be upset if we get hockey, of course. I'm just thoroughly nervous about the execution of it all.

That said, if it does move forward as intended, the Panthers will take on the Islanders as a play-in. That matchup didn't go so well, last time. The Panthers struggle with physical, possession-oriented teams specifically like NYI. I wouldn't like this matchup in normal circumstances, let alone in these ones. Fingers crossed.