NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly issued a statement Friday to tsa.ca outlining the next steps for players during the league’s hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
In summary, Daly said players are expected to remain in their club’s home cities, with the exception of those separated from family (most likely due to a recent trade). The expectation is that players will be able to return to team facilities to resume skating and working out in small groups in the near future. There is no mandatory testing for players at this time, but if they exhibit symptoms, they should be tested.
Here is the full text from Daly, per tsn.ca:
“The general expectation is that players will remain in their club’s home cities absent unusual circumstances. Obviously, where a player is separated from his family because his club city residence is only temporary at this point, those players should be permitted to go home to their families in this initial phase of the pause period.
“We envision there coming a time where we transition direction from ‘stay at home’ to opening club facilities to players to work out and to skate on a voluntary basis in small groups similar to what we generally see prior to the beginning of team training camps. At this point, I’m not in a position to say when that will be. We will see how the next week or so plays out.
“No mandatory testing. If a player exhibits symptoms or becomes sick he will be tested, as appropriate.
“We are recommending against informal skates during this initial phase of the pause. Once we move into the next phase and players is ‘training’ for resumption of play, his activities will be subject to the protections afforded in his SPC.”
