NHL: 5 takeaways from a busy week of coronavirus news

There is no denying this has been a week unlike any other for the world of professional sports, with the growing impact of the coronavirus. Here are five takeaways from an NHL perspective.

To say this has been a surreal week for the NHL and everyone connected with it, would be a significant understatement. As novel coronavirus continues to spread, you almost feel like this is some sort of movie plotline.

Sadly for all of us this is not the case and we can only hope that the situation improves sooner than later for one and all. In the meantime, we consider the implications for the NHL both for this season and beyond, as we count down our five takeaways from the last few days:

5) The initial reaction to the NHL officially suspending the season

When the NHL shared a press release officially confirming the 2019-20 season was being suspended, it came as no surprise. And yet it still felt like a shocking turn of events to hockey fans everywhere, despite the recent calls to follow this very course of action.

This was arguably because the NHL’s decision was the moment when reality finally hit home for a lot of people. The full seriousness of the situation regarding novel coronavirus could no longer be denied by those who were looking to sport for escapism.

Whenever something serious takes place somewhere around the globe, people will often turn to sports as a form of distraction from the real world. However, the phrase that “sport often reflects society” has never been more true.

Interestingly, in respect of escapism, the NHL did try to end their press release on a positive note. As per NHL Public Relations, they wrote:

“Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy.”

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.

3) Changing the playoff format

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said he hopes/expects to finish the 2019-20 campaign in some form and award the Stanley Cup. As per Sportnet‘s Elliotte Friedman, this would likely mean a change in how teams qualify for the playoffs, but which idea is best?

The most talked-about suggestion is basing qualification on points percentage rather than actual points. For example, this would mean the New York Islanders replacing the Columbus Blue Jackets in the playoffs despite currently sitting one point behind them in the standings.

Friedman notes that another possibility is getting every team to 72 games. While fairer than points percentage, this would only become viable if there was enough time to fit in any more regular-season action.

In respect of time limitations, each playoff series could be reduced from seven games to five, three or even just one. For anyone who doesn’t like this idea — and one game is certainly not enough — time restraints could instead lead to having just four teams qualify from each conference rather than eight.

No matter what direction the NHL takes, there will be players, organizations, and fans who won’t be happy. However, each of the suggestions above will be impacted by how much time the league has to finish this season, if at all.

2) Don’t even finish the season

Of course, the NHL and everyone associated with the league want to find some way to complete the 2019-20 campaign. However, we all have to prepare ourselves for the possibility this may not be an option.

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As unfortunate as this would be, in the grand scheme of things it isn’t that important. Besides, it’s not as if this would be the first time an NHL season had ended without the Stanley Cup being awarded to a team.

We’re sure most hockey fans are painfully aware that there was a lockout which resulted in the 2004-05 season not being played. If the league is prepared to do such a thing over money, then the health and safety of people is significantly more important.

In any event, this wouldn’t even be the first time a pandemic impacted the NHL. The 1919 Stanley Cup Finals had to be cancelled after five games, due to an outbreak of Spanish flu.

Ultimately, it is entirely understandable why the NHL is hoping to still have a season to be salvaged. However, if canceling the 2019-20 campaign results in helping stop the spread of novel coronavirus, then there can be no argument with this.