Here is an FAQ containing information gathered from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly:
When can we expect the season to resume?
Commissioner Bettman said the NHL season would resume when it was “prudent and safe to do so.”
The League is drawing on local, state and federal authorities who are in constant contact with medical personnel.
Have any NHL players tested positive for COVID-19?
Commissioner Bettman said there have been no positive tests among NHL players. Deputy commissioner Daly said any player with symptoms should be tested. There is no need for mandatory testing for all players, he said.
Where are NHL players supposed to stay during the break?
The league announced new guidelines for players on March 16.
Effective immediately, players may choose to return home (outside of the club’s home city, including outside of North America, as long as flights are available).
The self-quarantine period must continue at the player’s home through Friday, March 27, unless a longer period is required in accordance with local travel mandates. Players must continue to immediately report any symptoms or test results to club medical staff.
At the end of the self-quarantine period, and depending on how the global situation evolves between now and then, consideration will be given to allowing club facilities to open to players in small, scheduled and coordinated groups for voluntary training and player care on the same basis as during the off-season.
What about injured players?
Players requiring rehabilitation and treatment for injuries that have prevented them from playing will be directed by their team’s medical staff to the team’s facility, unless the player and the team agree to use an alternative approach.
Are players allowed to train and practice at team facilities?
All practices, workouts and team meetings have also been suspended. Deputy Commissioner Daly said the league hopes players will be allowed to return to their team facilities to train and skate on a voluntary basis in small groups in the near future. There is no timetable for when that option will be available to players. Until facilities reopen, players are encouraged to train at home or outdoors, but not in public gyms.
Will players be paid during the break?
Yes. Players still had three days of pay to pay this season at the time of the break (March 13, March 30, April 15).
Could the Stanley Cup be awarded after June?
Commissioner Bettman said the league does not have a specific date for awarding the Stanley Cup.
What should fans do if they have tickets for the games affected by the break?
Teams should be in communication with ticket holders to determine options, including retaining tickets for postponed games and potentially providing credits or refunds if games are canceled. It is likely that issues with tickets purchased through Ticketmaster or secondary market resale companies such as StubHub will need to be resolved in accordance with those companies’ policies.
What return-to-play options is the NHL considering?
Commissioner Bettman said the league is analyzing “all options,” but without a timetable for when the season might resume, it’s difficult to determine what the best course of action might be. He said he has an “internal working group” of senior NHL officials that meets twice a day to review all options. The league is also in daily contact with the NHL Players’ Association, with Commissioner Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr communicating regularly.
Could the season resume with matches in buildings closed to the general public?
Commissioner Bettman said it was too early to speculate on that.
Will the 2020-21 NHL season be impacted if this season extends into the summer?
Commissioner Bettman said the league is planning for a full, normal 2020-21 season.
