Sixteen months after choosing Canada as the safest place to complete its season, the NHL now faces a series of hurdles north of the border that complicate its bid to power through the pandemic all over again.
The league postponed nine more games Tuesday 鈥� all of them in Canada 鈥� and cited attendance restrictions in Montreal, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary. It also moved a Jan. 12 game in Montreal between the Bruins and Canadiens to Boston.
With 80 games now postponed this season, the NHL hopes to shift the games in Canada to later in the season 鈥渨hen such restrictions may be eased or lifted.鈥� More than other leagues, the NHL heavily relies on ticket sales revenue.
Attendance limits are only one piece of the NHL's Canada problem.
The and can swiftly move to adopt shorter isolation periods for those who test positive for the coronavirus in accordance with new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the two leagues also can consider not testing asymptomatic, vaccinated players.
The NHL with seven teams north of the border must balance stricter COVID-19 regulations set by 91原创 federal and provincial authorities.
鈥淲e have always had the issue of differing rules in different jurisdictions, so it鈥檚 not a new challenge,鈥� Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday, hours before after an extended holiday break. 鈥�(We are) navigating choppy waters the best we can."
The prompted an NHL review of its virus protocols. But there is little evidence Canada is ready to move like the U.S. toward looser rules as provinces clamp down on crowd sizes and impose additional restrictions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not in the mind of the state or the population and especially not in the mind of the health field workers,鈥� said University of Ottawa professor Gilles LeVasseur, who specializes in U.S.-Canada relations. 鈥淩ight now it鈥檚 more, 鈥楲et鈥檚 protect, let鈥檚 secure and let鈥檚 close in and let鈥檚 do another confinement.鈥� ... There is not that mentality of saying that it鈥檚 part of us, it鈥檚 part of who we are and let鈥檚 live with it.鈥�
That path in the U.S., even among other sports leagues, is causing some frustration among hockey players who would like to see the NHL relax some protocols, most notably reducing mandated absences from 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms.
鈥淚t seems like it鈥檚 always Canada that鈥檚 the reason that a lot of things don鈥檛 happen, so I don鈥檛 know if we鈥檙e going to be able to do that,鈥� Tampa Bay Lightning forward and NHL Players Association representative Alex Killorn said. 鈥淏ut it seems reasonable that we would do that and implement it as soon as possible."
Teammate Steven Stamkos said it was a fine line, while acknowledging discussion about testing less is happening around NHL locker rooms. Veteran executive Lou Lamoriello said the league and union are doing the best they can without being able to control 91原创 federal and provincial rules.
鈥淯nless we weren鈥檛 playing in Canada and we didn鈥檛 have teams in Canada, you could consider (not testing asymptomatic vaccinated players), and certainly it would be (considered),鈥� the New York Islanders general manager said over the weekend. 鈥淏ut with the guidelines and rules of Canada, it鈥檚 impossible to have happen. We wouldn鈥檛 be able to have games without the testing that is required to play in Canada.鈥�
The American Hockey League, which has 26 teams in the U.S. and five in Canada, is wrestling with the same issues. The AHL has so far postponed 61 games and is trying to play as many as possible without widespread disruption.
AHL president and CEO Scott Howson said shuffling the schedule for teams in Quebec and Manitoba is not feasible in the middle of the season, despite the possibility of games in empty arenas.
鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 consider a situation where we鈥檇 start putting those teams on the road and adjust the schedule,鈥� Howson told The AP by phone Tuesday. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to play their schedule, and if they have to play a few games with 0% (capacity) then that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e going to do.鈥�
Having teams in Canada comes with the acknowledgement that it's more difficult for them to avoid lengthy absences.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always subject to what the 91原创 government鈥檚 going to do, and you respect that and our 91原创 teams know that,鈥� Howson said. "
One option is having different testing and isolation requirements for the U.S. and Canada.
鈥淭here鈥檚 arguments on both sides,鈥� Howson said. "You want the level playing field, but for us, the 26 teams that could have a less restrictive system, why should they be punished?"
The NHL is testing players, coaches and staff daily through Jan. 7 as part of enhanced virus protocols, which include a return to mask-wearing and restrictions for road teams. Taxi squads are back until the All-Star break to try to keep the season going.
As for Canada following the U.S. strategy of living with the virus, LeVasseur does not expect that shift for at least two more weeks while health officials monitor case and hospitalization numbers.
"If nothing turns out to be a catastrophe in the hospitals, then you鈥檒l have that second mentality," he said. 鈥淏ut until we get to Jan. 15, nothing is going to be opening to that mentality. It鈥檒l be more closed in, secure, confinement and restrictions. That is the pattern that we鈥檙e going to see.鈥�
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Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
