With training camps across the National Hockey League expected to open on July 10, some players across the league have voluntarily entered Phase 2 of the return-to-play program, skating in small groups.
Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is one of those players who have returned to Warrior Ice Arena as part of Phase 2.
Leaving the bubble that is your home and jumping onto the ice is undoubtedly a risk. As we’ve all heard, several players across the league have had positive tests pop up, including
an unnamed teammate of Grzelcyk’s. The Tampa Bay Lightning were recently forced to close their facility after three players and additional staffers tested positive for COVID-19.
"I think the testing, it's pretty tedious, but necessary. I think the league and the teams are taking all the right measures to make sure the players are safe and as healthy as possible,” Grzelcyk said in a Tuesday zoom with the media. “And also the staff coming to the rink, keeping them in mind. It's been tough on everyone, but I think we're trying to do the best we can to make it a safe environment.”
With Phase 2 allowing for players to return on a smaller basis before training camp opens in a little over two weeks, the league and it’s players are using Phase 2 to gather information on things such as health and testing before things really ramp up in training camp.
"We're really learning some things in this phase here and hopefully it'll make us better going forward with this whole thing,” added Grzelcyk.
With how long this whole pandemic has gone on for, and no real end date in sight, nearly all of us know of one person that has been at least tested, and some with a positive result.
Although having a teammate come back with a positive test is a bit of a shock, it’s no real surprise for Grzelcyk.
"It’s definitely eye-opening to hear, but at the same time looking back, going into it you certainly expect that to pop up," Grzelcyk said. "You see more and more cases popping up across the league, and that’s to be expected as well.”
Although positive tests are expected throughout this process, it still provides for some uneasy feelings for everyone involved.
“At the same time, it’s still a little nerve-wracking. You’re just not sure what this all means going forward,” said Grzelcyk. “You want to make sure that those players and the people that they’re around are staying healthy and staying isolated from whoever they’re around so that we can slow the passing of this."
With the NHL narrowing down the options for their two hub cities to six, you can only hope that putting players in isolation in hub cities will provide safer measures than the ones players are currently putting themselves through. Getting away from states like Florida and Arizona where cases are continuing to spike can only help the safety of the players and organizational staff.
"Not really sure what to expect,” Grzelcyk said in regard to the league’s plans for the hub cities. "I have full confidence that the league will handle that as best they can. I know they're taking a lot of suggestions on things."
Being isolated in a single location does not sound like a fun thing to do, but with the trade off being the chance to compete for a Stanley Cup, it’s one most players are willing to take.
"I’m sure it’s gonna be quite a lockdown, and I think that I’m prepared to be pretty isolated,” said Grzelcyk. “I think just having myself aware of those things will help and know that things probably aren’t going to go as planned the whole time, and things happen.”
Like many of Grzelcyk’s teammates have echoed during this whole process, Grzelcyk is grateful to be a part of the Bruins organization and is thankful he will have another chance to compete for a Stanley Cup.
The same can’t be said for Grzelcyk’s former teammate at Boston University, Sabres Captain Jack Eichel.
Both natives of Massachusetts, Grzelcyk and Eichel became close friends during their time at BU. As their friendship remains intact during their NHL careers, Grzelcyk feels for his close friend as Eichel’s Sabres have yet to qualify for the playoffs in each of his five seasons in Buffalo.
"I know that it's a tough situation, especially for Jack. He's one of my good friends. I know firsthand how competitive he is and how much he wants to win more than anything,” said Grzelcyk.
"But it certainly makes you look inward and how grateful I am to play for such a great organization [in Boston]. We have such good leaders and such good veterans and guys that have been there before, and they know what it takes to get the job done. I'm so blessed to be on this team.”
As the Bruins prepare for what they hope is another deep playoff the run, the Sabres organization remains a mess. Last week the team fired 20 members of management and the scouting department which also included general manager Jason Botterill.
Grzelcyk and the Bruins have appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his four seasons in Boston.
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