NHL: 5 takeaways from a busy week of coronavirus news
By Paul Taylor
4) NHL debating reopening training facilities as early as next week
As per the Associated Press via Sportsnet, it was reported that teams could be cleared to open their training facilities to allow player workouts as soon as next week. Coming just one day after the NHL officially suspended the season, this was another surprising piece of news.
The information came via NHL Players’ Association chief Don Fehr, so you would like to believe he has his finger on the pulse. Regardless, next week just sounds too soon at what is still an early stage in what has been transpired.
In fairness to Fehr, he did specify there is no confirmed timeline at this stage. As per the Associated Press, he said:
"“I think the initial phase is a few days, whether it turns out to be two or three or five or six, we’re not going to know yet. And we’ll be constantly in touch with the NHL and constantly re-evaluating.”"
In this respect, ongoing talks will hopefully result in the NHL not reopening team training facilities so soon. Dealing with novel coronavirus is the very definition of being a marathon rather than a sprint; it’s about safety and precaution above everything else.