The NHL has told the Canadian government that it wants a response to the coronavirus-related border factor in the Stanley Cup playoffs until June 1.
“Conversations are ongoing. We told them we want to know before the first round ends, and that’s around June 1. That’s the date we talked to them, saying we want to know one way or another,” Steve Mayer, NHL’s content director, told ESPN on Friday.
The first two rounds of the playoffs are played in each of the 4 realigned divisions created for the 2020–21 season, adding the all-Canadian North Division, but in the third round, the last 4 groups face off. he would not be allowed to play in Canada without mandatory quarantine, which would be highly unlikely on the playoff schedule. The only remaining Canadian team would cross the border opposing a U. S. opponent in the semi-finals or, instead of betting their home games in Canada, would be staying in a U. S. -based stadium for the semifinals (and finals, if moving forward).
The last verbal exchange between the NHL and the Canadian government took a position last Friday, when NHL government officials with a list of questions were answered before the next session.
Mayer said the NHL has had talks with some U. S. -based NHL stadiums. But it’s not the first time About the possibility of home to a Canadian team, which are home to non-elimination groups. Lately, fans are not allowed to participate in the games at home of Canadian groups, while the US team has not been allowed to participate in the games at home. But it’s not the first time He has been allowed to have enthusiasts with limited capacity in his field. In theory, Canadian groups would have home games enthusiasts playing in American stadiums in unbiased locations.
The end of the first circular may also facilitate negotiations with the Canadian government. The Northern Division playoffs chart covers 4 provinces: Edmonton, Alberta plays Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Toronto, Ontario, faces Montreal, Quebec. “Soon there will be two. So, if there are problems and this province is leaving, it might be easier, ” said Mayer.
The NHL felt it could obtain an exemption from the Canadian government due to the rigour of its COVID protocols this season and the fact that more and more players and team staff are vaccinated. To inspire the latter, the NHL announced this month that COVID Restrictions would be easy for U. S. organizations once 85% of an organization is fully vaccinated. This would mean more flexible social estating rules within organizations and not having to go through PCR testing on holidays.
Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital who consulted with NHLPA, told ESPN last month that the challenge is not a factor in “public health” or “player safety,” but an “optical” factor for the Canadian government.
“These American groups have exquisite resources at their disposal: flying on personal jets, security protocols in position for groups,” he said. “This does not pose a threat to the general public, let us be transparent here. This does not pose a threat”. to the players or assistants involved. It would be an ethics and optics consultation. “
Mayer said the NHL would alleviate considerations with “a point of effervescence that we will have to promise” if groups are allowed to enter and leave Canada. While the rules would probably not succeed in blocking the 2020 NHL playoff bubble in Toronto and Edmonton, they would separate the two groups from the general public.
An NHL source told ESPN this week that the league expects “a resolution” of the border factor before the third playoff circular, which Mayer echoed.
“We have enough confidence. Conversations have been smart with them. We’re still there, but they said no,” he said.
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