Hockey Thoughts From Last Night

2 years ago  /  Kuklas Korner

from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,


- There were some players who asked if it would still be possible to go to the Olympics on an individual basis. That was possible if the decision was left to the players. But, because this was the NHL’s call, that option is closed.

- All of these leagues talk to each other, they know what each is thinking. So, what are the ramifications for the NHL? Let’s unpack.

 First, a reduction in testing. How does everyone feel about that? I do not want to create the impression I talk to enough people to paint a fully accurate picture. I have some idea, and opinions are all over the place -- with extremely passionate debate in private. “I wish you could listen to these calls,” one player said. (So do I.) Nashville’s Nick Cousins and Montreal’s Jonathan Drouin publicly expressed their concerns. Cousins tweeted last Thursday he felt a pause should happen. The Predators beat Colorado and Chicago before they were shut down. Drouin admitted worry about playing Boston on Saturday night, following the Bruins’ outbreak. That game was postponed, and the temporary cross-border closure means the Canadiens aren’t scheduled to play again until next Tuesday. Both of those players have private support. Several others (and staff) indicated they don’t care so much about testing for themselves, but for their families. That’s an extra layer of protection they greatly appreciate.

However, there is growing opposition to frequent testing, instead searching for alternatives. When Steve Yzerman talks, people listen. “Our players are testing positive with very little symptoms, if any symptoms at all,” he said last weekend. “I don’t see it as a threat to their health at this point. So, I think you might take it a step further and question why are we even testing for guys that have no symptoms….The players ultimately want to play. None have come to us and said, ‘We should shut this down.’ If they feel that way, they haven’t expressed that to us. They’ve been very acceptive of the protocols. Whether they like them or not is irrelevant. They’ve been willing to do them. I think they just want to play and get through this.”...

- Player who has most surprised this season: Tage Thompson, Buffalo.


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