NHL allows players to return to home countries during season pause

As of Monday, the NHL is allowing players — should they wish — to return to their home states or countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The NHL’s optimistic plan for a potential quick return to skating in isolation as early as next week will not come to pass. On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a recommendation that for the next eight weeks, no events should held with 50 or more attendees.

As such, the NHL released their own mandate on Monday morning — as first reported by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet — stating that players are allowed to return to their home cities and countries. Previously, the NHL had been keeping players in their team’s cities on the off-chance they were given permission to start skating within the next week or so.

Now, however, it seems as if the NHL is in for the long haul with the rest of the world.

Here is an excerpt of the NHL’s statement:

"Effective immediately, Players can opt to return home (outside of the Club’s home city, including outside of North America, to the extent flights are available).The self-quarantine period should continue within the Player’s home through and including Friday, March 27, unless a longer period may be required in accordance with local mandates related to travel."

Also of note is the NHL’s timeline given within the release, which states that the league is looking to hold a “training camp period roughly 45 days into the 60-day period covered by the CDC’s directive.”

That timeline is the first real estimate we’ve been given by the NHL as to when play will possibly resume, with a training camp likely taking place on or around May 1. The league is also reportedly considering a 24-team playoff format when play resumes, with a truncated series format (such as a best-of-three) and a Stanley Cup likely awarded in July.

The CDC’s recommendations and guidelines have finally given us a bit of clarity on when we could see the return of sports, and while it’s further away than many were hoping it’d be, we at least have a timeline to work off of now.

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