Once all the statues come down things will be better.
- homiedclown

They also need to destroy all the dollar bills featuring George Washington. That will show 'em.

They also need to destroy all the dollar bills featuring George Washington. That will show 'em.
- Kooleus

Ek just got a text from a player saying he crossed the Delaware to stay in shape during quarantine.

Todays NHL player COVID-19 count is 11. Maybe more?
- Tee56

Could be an advert for NHL return: Keep players safe. Return to safe play.

Come to think of it, that could work for Durex too.

I think it’s time to call the season. It makes no sense to try and continue until covid is done.
Imagine going through with playoffs and then a couple of key players get covid. What a sh$t show that would be.

I think it’s time to call the season. It makes no sense to try and continue until covid is done.
Imagine going through with playoffs and then a couple of key players get covid. What a sh$t show that would be.
- Avery40

It’s hockey, every team member will clam up and play to win. At the very end of the Cup run then we will find out injuries and COVID-19 counts. PLAY TO WIN

I think it’s time to call the season. It makes no sense to try and continue until covid is done.
Imagine going through with playoffs and then a couple of key players get covid. What a sh$t show that would be.
- Avery40

Would it be less of a poop show then no games at all till 2022? Because current realities suggest that is the most likely earliest time before our concerns change.

Of over 200 players tested, 11 have tested +. That's about consistent with estimated national percentages. It shows these players are not any better than the average Joe in keeping safe by themselves.

What happens if NHL returns as planned, and the infection rate among players actually goes down? because it is easier to enforce social distancing etc under a controlled environment with clear goals in mind than leaving it to individual discretion for young rich men? Would Matthews be more willing to obey lockdown/mask under those conditions than left to himself in Arizona?

Lets say Pens make SCF, and Sid and Geno get it. But, they are the only ones that do in post-season among players, so infection rates among players actually drop.

Then, you have the sanctity of the game on one side versus flawed entertainment AND keeping players safe on the other side.

Todays NHL player COVID-19 count is 11. Maybe more?
- Tee56

A ton of guys could be A symptomatic to, and have it. Relax! This is the very poor man's version of the Spanish flu.😁🥳

A ton of guys could be A symptomatic to, and have it. Relax! This is the very poor man's version of the Spanish flu.😁🥳
- Landsbergfan

In the same way that the Spanish flu was the very poor man's version of the Bubonic Plague.

Everybody except stone cold buffoons, whose central political motivation is their raging non-acceptance of their own buffoonery.
- PT21

Well said sir.

They also need to destroy all the dollar bills featuring George Washington. That will show 'em.
- Kooleus

Would it be less of a poop show then no games at all till 2022? Because current realities suggest that is the most likely earliest time before our concerns change.

Of over 200 players tested, 11 have tested +. That's about consistent with estimated national percentages. It shows these players are not any better than the average Joe in keeping safe by themselves.

What happens if NHL returns as planned, and the infection rate among players actually goes down? because it is easier to enforce social distancing etc under a controlled environment with clear goals in mind than leaving it to individual discretion for young rich men? Would Matthews be more willing to obey lockdown/mask under those conditions than left to himself in Arizona?

Lets say Pens make SCF, and Sid and Geno get it. But, they are the only ones that do in post-season among players, so infection rates among players actually drop.

Then, you have the sanctity of the game on one side versus flawed entertainment AND keeping players safe on the other side.
- PT21

Matthews, the Coyotes and TB players all test positive shortly after limited opening of camps. The issue doesn’t seem to be Matthews obeying lockdown, the issue seems to be all these players going to team facilities.

Moving to full training camp will just increase the number if cases unless there are reductions of case numbers overall.

The problem is probably going to be less about the bubble (if the playoff arrangement is a real bubble), it’s going to be getting there.

- homiedclown

Love the low grade racism

Continue the season. Don’t curl up into a ball waiting forever for it to end, we have to go back to going about our lives normally. If you are at risk because you are old or have other complications then keep quarantining but everyone else should be able to get back to work.

Matthews, the Coyotes and TB players all test positive shortly after limited opening of camps. The issue doesn’t seem to be Matthews obeying lockdown, the issue seems to be all these players going to team facilities.

Moving to full training camp will just increase the number if cases unless there are reductions of case numbers overall.

The problem is probably going to be less about the bubble (if the playoff arrangement is a real bubble), it’s going to be getting there.
- Canada Cup

If what you are saying is true it will certainly contradict my premise, but are you sure? I would think there would be a lag on both sides of the testing (the front lag would be in the # of days after infection a person tests positive, the time it took for players to get tested after phase 2 started while the back end lag would be # of days for tests to come back as positive and # of days for news of it to leak to media).

EDIT: I think stacheboy got it in AZ, not in camp? Given that he was not in camp 2 days ago?

https://www.nhl.com/news/...ime-to-return/c-317204870

If what you are saying is true it will certainly contradict my premise, but are you sure? I would think there would be a lag on both sides of the testing (the front lag would be in the # of days after infection a person tests positive, the time it took for players to get tested after phase 2 started while the back end lag would be # of days for tests to come back as positive and # of days for news of it to leak to media).

EDIT: I think stacheboy got it in AZ, not in camp? Given that he was not in camp 2 days ago?

https://www.nhl.com/news/...ime-to-return/c-317204870
- PT21

He’s been in the Coyotes facility where a bunch of their players and staff just tested positive.

Also, I’m sure they’re getting premium testing service with quick turnaround.

Leaf's should have gotten him out of Arizona when the virus lately started going through the roof and Matthews being a kid should have taken more precautions but he is a kid and his thing springs so he wants it wet....too risky
- Leafcup

Has anyone seen Mathews with a gf>? i get the total feeling he is definately into dudes, totally acceptable but i just dont see him being a ladies man..

Has anyone seen Mathews with a gf>? i get the total feeling he is definately into dudes, totally acceptable but i just dont see him being a ladies man..
- a1xfreakx13

Huge if true

this kid can't keep his face or his ass covered.

JT deserves covid 91!

JT deserves covid 91!
- LItransplant44

So we finally found the guy that the phrase get a life was invented for. My life is so empty I want my former sports hero to contract a deadly virus because he wanted to play for his home team. I’m going to guess that every dog you ever owned ran away from you and your kids pretend they don’t know you if they see you in public.

Has anyone seen Mathews with a gf>? i get the total feeling he is definately into dudes, totally acceptable but i just dont see him being a ladies man..
- a1xfreakx13

I saw Matthews and Tanner together.

He’s been in the Coyotes facility where a bunch of their players and staff just tested positive.

Also, I’m sure they’re getting premium testing service with quick turnaround.
- Canada Cup

Ok, fair enough, point taken.

But I would still cut the NHL some slack. They are just getting this show on the road. Their policy is going to almost eugenics like - they need to create an infection free bubble of places and people, and this will take a little bit of time. Some of the players who have tested positive are likely people who have the antibodies from exposure prior to phase 2. Some have spread it to others during camp. They need to test/test/test and quarantine/cull/quarantine. I hope this bump will die down to the occasional this and that as the bubble grows stronger and this could just be an artifact of the fact that this is the first of many large simultaneous testing protocols. If they cannot tamp it down or if spread worsens, then I am less optimistic.

But for now, imo, unfortunate but nothing unexpected.

No discussion about Carcillo's lurid exposes?

I am always struck by the personality dissonances in Hockey. Otoh, players are so polite off the ice, and always (almost comically) giving up credit to every single possible player within 5 minutes of any personal achievement (X made a great play making the save and Y made a great pass up the ice and Z was taking two players with him and I just happened to get the pass in neutral zone and luckily got by 3 players and happened to beat a very good goalie on the backhand).

Yet behind all the politeness and the on-ice wizardry, it is a brutal sport.

So, what represents the psyche of the hockey player more: gentlemen who happen to be playing a brutal game or brutes who pretend to be gentlemen?

And if this is too airy fairy for you, kiss my butt. Its a slow day.

Ok, fair enough, point taken.

But I would still cut the NHL some slack. They are just getting this show on the road. Their policy is going to almost eugenics like - they need to create an infection free bubble of places and people, and this will take a little bit of time. Some of the players who have tested positive are likely people who have the antibodies from exposure prior to phase 2. Some have spread it to others during camp. They need to test/test/test and quarantine/cull/quarantine. I hope this bump will die down to the occasional this and that as the bubble grows stronger and this could just be an artifact of the fact that this is the first of many large simultaneous testing protocols. If they cannot tamp it down or if spread worsens, then I am less optimistic.

But for now, imo, unfortunate but nothing unexpected.
- PT21

I’m not all that harsh on the league. They don’t have a lot of of options. Since next season is going to start without fans, if they don’t get some playoff revenue they’re going to lose some franchise.

Their biggest vulnerabilities are the camps not the actual hubs and when they expand we may see more of this. The Athletic (Mirtle and Russo) are saying more players are getting antsy, wondering whether it’s worth it and worrying about coaches some of whom are in their 60’s and vulnerable.

If one of these players or a coach gets really sick, then I think it’s game over. If the number of infections keeps going up, probably same thing. Maybe the best idea is to wait till the fall and the start the season in the spring.

I’m not all that harsh on the league. They don’t have a lot of of options. Since next season is going to start without fans, if they don’t get some playoff revenue they’re going to lose some franchise.

Their biggest vulnerabilities are the camps not the actual hubs and when they expand we may see more of this. The Athletic (Mirtle and Russo) are saying more players are getting antsy, wondering whether it’s worth it and worrying about coaches some of whom are in their 60’s and vulnerable.

If one of these players or a coach gets really sick, then I think it’s game over. If the number of infections keeps going up, probably same thing. Maybe the best idea is to wait till the fall and the start the season in the spring.
- Canada Cup

Some NHL players were also unhappy when Swedish players were able to return to ice way sooner than North American ones.

Imo, the biggest issue in Covid is the high rate of early false negatives. Makes preventative quarantine so difficult. I thought it would be overcome by now, and/or rapid testing would be proficient. But no.

Not minimizing the problems. Lets see if it reaches critical mass.