Rick Zamperin: Coronavirus already impacts upcoming NHL season

With the Nationwide Hockey League simply a few days away from beginning its abbreviated 56-game common season, there’s phrase that COVID-19 has impacted the schedule even earlier than the primary puck is dropped.

The NHL mentioned it's “reviewing and revising” the Dallas Stars’ schedule after revealing Friday that six gamers and two workers members have examined constructive for the novel coronavirus.

The defending Western Convention champions have been slated to open their season on Thursday in Florida however the league says it's unlikely that the Stars will play a recreation any sooner than Jan. 19.

It means Dallas’ first two video games in opposition to the Panthers in addition to their Stanley Cup rematch in opposition to Tampa Bay on Jan. 18, should be rescheduled.

Dallas has closed its coaching facility for the subsequent a number of days and the affected gamers and workers at the moment are self-isolating, however the Stars aren't alone.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets mentioned it “held a number of players” out of Friday’s observe “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols,” and the Pittsburgh Penguins cancelled their observe on Saturday as a consequence of a possible COVID-19 publicity.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, and by extension, the Toronto Raptors, will now not have followers in attendance at Amelie Enviornment as a consequence of a current spike in COVID-19 circumstances and hospitalizations throughout west-central Florida.

There have been zero circumstances of COVID-19 when the NHL completed the 2019-20 season final summer season within the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles and whereas we received’t see a bubble, or bubbles, this yr, the league has gone to nice lengths to attempt to restrict the unfold of the novel coronavirus.

All 4 divisions have been realigned and groups will solely play in opposition to different groups in their very own division, gamers and coaches will probably be restricted to the world and lodge when on the highway, and there will probably be no followers — or only a few in some circumstances — allowed in NHL rinks.

Even so, identical to now we have seen within the NBA, NFL and Main League Baseball, there will probably be some constructive circumstances amongst NHL groups.

To not make COVID-19 sound trivial, however the golf equipment which are least affected by the virus could possibly be those which are essentially the most profitable on the ice.

Rick Zamperin is the assistant program, information and senior sports activities director at World Information Radio 900 CHML.

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