Categories: ColumnsWinnipeg Jets

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly outlines the next step for players

With the NHL and AHL seasons paused and with players back in Winnipeg the question for them is what is the next step in the process?  Can they work out?  Can they train?  Expectation would be Jets players would hit the IcePlex for their on-ice training and working out.

Here is what NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly outlined as the next step for players:

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 player is “training” for resumption of play, his activities will be subject to the protections afforded in his SPC.

Last line is interesting.  Basically appears to disavow players being afforded any insurance coverage at this current time.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.

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