Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild players stand during the national anthem during an NHL exhibition game in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The NHL will return to action Saturday after a four-and-a-half-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, with 24 of its 31 teams playing in two key cities. There will be up to six games on television per day, but there will be no spectators at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., or Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Ducks and Kings will be out, having not finished in the top 24, but the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues could be in for a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final. Regardless of who wins, the Cup will be awarded on Canadian ice for the first time in nine years.
Welcome to NHL summer hockey, a first in its long and sometimes eventful history.
Play resumed with a series of exhibition games earlier this week, and the return of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Alex Ovechkin, Carey Price and the game’s other stars was enough to send Canadian television ratings soaring.
Selling these products will likely be more difficult south of the border, with Major League Baseball and the NBA underway and the NFL about to kick off. The sports market is going to be more crowded than ever this time of year, and it’s all because of the coronavirus.
Naturally, you have questions.
We have the answers.
WHAT IS THE RETURN TO GAME FORMAT?
The best-of-5 qualifying matches begin on Saturday.
In the Eastern Conference: Pittsburgh (5th seed) vs. Montreal (12th seed); Carolina (6th seed) vs. New York Rangers (11th seed); New York Islanders (7th seed) vs. Florida (10th seed); Toronto (8th seed) vs. Columbus (9th seed). In the Western Conference: Edmonton (5th seed) vs. Chicago (12th seed); Nashville (6th seed) vs. Arizona (11th seed); Vancouver (7th seed) vs. Minnesota (10th seed); Calgary (8th seed) vs. Winnipeg (9th seed).
While those qualifying rounds are being played, the top four teams in each conference at the time of the March 12 suspension of play will each play three round-robin games to determine the final standings. In the East: Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. In the West: St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas. The playoffs will then be played in a traditional four-round, best-of-seven format.
The conference finals and the Stanley Cup final will be played in Edmonton.
WHO ARE THE STANLEY CUP FAVORITES?
Boston (44-14-12) had the best record in the East when play was stopped and St. Louis (42-19-10) had the best record in the West. The Blues beat the Bruins in seven games last season in the final, and it’s not a stretch to imagine a rematch. But anyone who claims to know how this unprecedented 24-team tournament will play out is either a liar or a fool. Or maybe a wise guy. A goalie in shape could lift an underdog onto his back and lead the team to the championship. Could a Canadian team win the country’s first Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993?
Even something this crazy could happen.
HOW WERE THE POLE CITIES SELECTED?
The NHL chose Edmonton and Toronto from among 10 finalists, including Staples Center in Los Angeles. Unlike the United States, Canada has controlled the coronavirus and cases are relatively low, with the curve flattening over weeks and months of strict medical guidelines in the country. The league simply felt safer in Canada and chose that route for its return to play.
WHAT WILL LIFE IN THE BUBBLE BE LIKE?
Teams will be housed in secure areas in Edmonton and Toronto, living away from the general population of each city for the duration of the playoffs. Players, coaches and staff will stay in one of two hotels in each city. Teams will practice and play without spectators and with media members kept at a distance. There will be opportunities for recreational activities, including golf and tennis. Meals will be provided by carefully selected and monitored restaurants. Testing will be frequent. No positive tests were reported when teams entered their secure areas on Monday.
DO EDMONTON AND TORONTO HAVE AN ADVANTAGE?
It’s hard to say. Under normal circumstances, each team would be considered an underdog heading into the playoffs. They certainly won’t have the support of their rabid fans, since they won’t be allowed into arenas. The Oilers and Maple Leafs will be under some pressure to win, though. Edmonton last won the Stanley Cup in 1990. The Maple Leafs haven’t won since 1967, when the NHL had only six teams.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PLAYER TESTS POSITIVE?
Several players have tested positive and recovered during the NHL’s four-and-a-half-month hiatus, including the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews. A single positive test won’t end the playoffs, but it could be worrisome given the fear of spread within a team. A player who tests positive will be quarantined and kept away from teammates while he is treated for the coronavirus.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF AN EPIDEMIC?
It’s the nightmare scenario that Major League Baseball (without a bubble) has already faced with the Miami Marlins and Major League Soccer (with a bubble) with the Dallas and Nashville teams. The Marlins’ games were postponed for the entire weekend while MLB decided what to do next. MLS simply sent Dallas and Nashville home after its tournament in Orlando, Florida, continuing without them.
CAN THE NHL ACTUALLY DO THIS?
Definitely, maybe.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR DUCKS AND KINGS?
While players have dispersed to make the most of their extended vacation, Ducks general manager Bob Murray and Kings general manager Rob Blake have been busy preparing for the 2020-21 season and beyond, signing draft picks and re-signing free agents. The Ducks will select the sixth overall pick in the NHL Draft, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 9-10, and the Kings will have the second overall pick, two more chances for rebuilding teams to replenish their rosters for the future. The opening date for free agency has not been announced, but it will likely follow the draft by about a week. Additionally, while nothing has been announced, training camps for next season are expected to begin as early as Nov. 17 and the regular season to begin Dec. 1. Much depends on what happens over the next two months and whether the coronavirus recedes or continues to spread as we head into the fall and winter.
