The NHL and NHLPA have responded to ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks that have forced the shutdown of multiple teams and the postponement of 35 games through the first four weeks of the season by adopting new protocols for dealing with the virus.
The players will essentially be on a work-release program for the duration of the season, unless, that is, mass vaccinations of players create a different landscape. There is hope that the vaccine will become available to players no later than the end of March.
Under the new guidelines laid out in a memo that was distributed on Thursday afternoon and shared with The Post, players (and coaches, members of the training and equipment staffs and other operations personnel) in their home market, “shall remain at home and not leave except to attend practice or games or perform essential activities.”
As well, “It is strongly advised that all family members should limit their discretionary activities outside the home.”
Indoor dining at 25 percent capacity will reopen in New York City on Friday. A limited amount of fans will be permitted to attend games at the Garden and Coliseum by the end of this month. But NHL personnel will face added restrictions in an effort not to have to place the season on pause.
The league will introduce POC (Point of Care) rapid testing on game days for all players and personnel who operate in the vicinity of team benches. Presumably, players will not be permitted to dress without a negative result.
As well, genomic sequencing will be initiated “on a case by case basis during outbreaks to determine strain types and to estimate pathways of transmission.”
Players and club personnel are being reminded/advised to wear masks and practice social distancing at all times, with clubs urged to enforce mask-wearing, “in order to reduce the spread of virus and limit possible high risk close contact classification upon positive test.”
All player and team meetings now must be conducted virtually unless an exemption is granted by the NHL. That likely would not apply to postgame players-only meetings such as the impromptu gathering in the Rangers room following the Tony DeAngelo-Alexandar Georgiev imbroglio.
As glass has been removed behind team benches and penalty boxes in order in improve flow of air, the league is mandating that teams install protective netting to protect fans seated in those areas. If that proves impossible, the NHL is urging clubs not to seat spectators in those locations. That, of course, is center-ice.