Some good news for Toronto Maple Leafs looking forward to seeing some hockey this year.
Despite what appeared to be serious setbacks to their plans to resume play over the weekend as several players, and superstar Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews testing postive for Covid, the NHL appears to be proceeding with their plan.
Today, the NHL is set to expand phase two of their return to play initiative.
This means that players can be on the ice in groups of 12 instead of just six.
NHL Return to Play
I have no idea if it is safe to return to play, so all I can do is put my trust in the people involved and hope that they have the best interest of player safety and public health in mind when they make decision.
Effective tomorrow, the NHL will allow Phase 2 groups to be expanded to 12 players for on-ice sessions. Those had been limited to six skaters apiece since small-group workouts began in team facilities on June 8.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 22, 2020
It would seem that despite what happened on the weekend, the NHL remains confident that it can pull this off.
Phase two has been in effect for about two weeks, and I have no idea when Phase three is supposed to kick in, but if all goes well I have been led to believe we should see some actual hockey towards the end of July.
And as much as I enjoy other activities, such as endlessly writing and discussing hockey, I would be a liar if I didn’t say that I really, really want to see hockey come back.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have their best shot at a Cup in years, and I cannot wait. Of course my excitement is tempered with skepticism and a nagging doubt that this is neither a good idea, or one that will come to fruition.
I hope it happens, I hope it happens in a safe and reasonable fashion. But if the NHL wants to call the season off and play it safe, I wouldn’t complain or blame them.
I figure if you can cancel one full season and two half seasons over a 20 year period, you best be damned sure you can pull it off safely when you refuse to cancel hockey for safety reasons.
The rumours persist that the NHL will use Las Vegas as one of their hub cities, and while I am no doctor, it seems crazy to me that that is even on the table at this point.
The league considering Vegas makes me doubt they have anyone’s best interests at heart here. At least play the games in a place that appears to have some handle on controlling this thing.
To me, it seems like a no-brainer to play these games – if they have to be played – in a place where things seem to be under control.
If you want to do anything to inspire confidence, Las Vegas is the last place you should be holding games.
Anyways, phase 2, part 2 is now in effect.