The NHL is not planning on putting teams in quarantined "bubbles" when training camps open July 10, deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Thursday, according to The Canadian Press.
Players are instead being told to stay home when not at their respective rinks. The hope is adequate testing and health protocols will prevent any outbreaks before players travel to the league's two hub cities for the resumption of play in late July.
The NHL hasn't determined its two hub cities yet, but a decision could come as soon as Friday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.
The opening of training camps represents Phase 3 of the league's return-to-play plan. Phase 2 - which allows for voluntary on- and off-ice workouts at team facilities for groups of up to six players - is ongoing. Groups were recently expanded from a maximum of six on-ice skaters to 12.
The Tampa Bay Lightning temporarily shut down their facilities amid Phase 2 last week after three unnamed players and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Shortly after, the NHL announced that 11 players had tested positive since the voluntary workouts began.
Were it not for Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller nagging scout Ernie Capadino, homely infielder Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh) would have been left behind in Colorado instead of becoming the Rockford Peaches' best hitter. While laughing at Marla's aversion to being prototypically pretty is worth a chuckle at first, watching her overcome self-esteem issues (thanks in part to some alcohol) to marry the man of her dreams is her finest moment.
59. Johnny Lawrence
"The Karate Kid" (1984)
As far as 1980s sports villains are concerned, William Zabka's portrayal of lead Cobra Kai bully, Johnny Lawrence, is up there with the best of them. Throughout "The Karate Kid," Lawrence makes Daniel LaRusso's life a living hell, right up until the two battle in a final showdown that features the legendary crane kick.
58. Russ Tyler
"D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994) and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)
Though the "Mighty Ducks" films had diminishing returns with each sequel, Russ Tyler (Kenan Thompson) and his signature "knucklepuck" shot rank high among the later films' best additions. Perhaps owing to the actor's now record-breaking reign on "Saturday Night Live," Thompson's involvement in the series has stood the test of time despite him not appearing in the original.
57. Coach Norman Dale
"Hoosiers" (1986)
Coach Dale (Gene Hackman) isn't flawless, but that only serves to make him a more nuanced, interesting character than the typical win-at-all-costs tyrants who often man the benches in sports films. Hackman achieves great results by balancing his broiling intensity with emotional sensitivity.
56. Alvin Mack
"The Program" (1993)
In "The Program," Duane Davis plays Alvin Mack, a linebacker for the ESU Timberwolves who appears to have a bright NFL future ahead of him even though he can barely read. Mack isn't a dummy by any means; he's just so invested in football that the system has forgotten to give him the tools to do anything but play the game, thus leading him to become the centerpiece of the film's most heartbreaking scene.
55. Kelly Leak
"The Bad News Bears" (1976)
Before Jackie Earle Haley shot to superstardom as Rorschach, the actor played rebellious nomad Kelly Leak in the 1976 version of "The Bad News Bears." The youngster not only has an affinity for women, gambling, and smoking, but it turns out he's one heck of a ballplayer, too.
54. Ross 'The Boss' Rhea
"Goon" (2011)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
At the beginning of "Goon," Liev Schreiber's Ross "The Boss" Rhea operates similar to the shark in "Jaws" - you get early glimpses of the monstrous, minor-league hockey enforcer but don't fully appreciate the full scope of his brutality until the film's third act, when the veteran enforcer goes toe-to-toe with protagonist Doug (Seann William Scott).
53. Clubber Lang
"Rocky III" (1982)
Mr. T's first notable screen role came as ferocious bruiser Clubber Lang in "Rocky III," which helped launch the actor toward superstardom and legendary status. I pity the fool who doesn't marvel at Lang's training montage and aggressive ring demeanor in this classic sports flick that helped transform Rocky's relationship with Apollo Creed, a man he beat one film earlier.
52. Jake Shuttlesworth
"He Got Game" (1998)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
Ex-con Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is the fly in the ointment, complicating what should be a straightforward, above-the-board recruiting process for his son, high school star Jesus (Ray Allen). Washington's abilities on the blacktop proved crucial for a scene later in the film, where he holds his own (for a bit) against the real-life NBA star.
51. Bobby Boucher
"The Waterboy" (1998)
In one of Adam Sandler's finest performances, Bobby Boucher goes from intellectually challenged water boy to college football superstar. A victim of bullying for years, Boucher channels his pent up rage to become a dominant linebacker and picks up his childhood crush along the way - despite the wishes of his overprotective "mama."
The NHL salary cap could remain stagnant over the coming seasons as the league and players' association continue to work toward a potential agreement to extend the CBA.
"As part of the agreement, the salary cap will be kept close to the current $81.5 million for the next three seasons," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday, adding that there's potential for it to go up $1 million in 2022-23.
The 700-plus players in the league will individually vote either for or against the extension.
Other major points of discussion include an escrow cap and salary deferrals for players. According to Friedman, the potential agreement between the two sides caps escrow at 20% for the 2020-21 campaign after original estimates had escrow at 35% if this season was not completed, and 27%-28% if it was.
In order to ensure teams and players split all hockey-related revenue, the NHL and NHLPA retain a percentage of players' salary, known as escrow, during the season.
Another element of the potential deal involves a 10% salary deferral by every player for one season only. That money will be returned to players in the future and the escrow on it would be lower.
Several players, including New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin and Anaheim Ducks veteran Ryan Kesler, voiced their frustrations with high escrow levels that have "protected the owners' income."
Negotiations to extend the CBA have reportedly been linked to the return-to-play talks. Panarin said the players cannot report to training camp, which is set to open July 10, until an agreement is in place.
Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Pricesaid Thursday he "wouldn't feel comfortable voting at this particular time" with many uncertainties remaining around the league's return-to-play plan.
Ryan Kesler didn't mince words when echoing New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin's concerns over the ongoing escrow battle between the NHL and the players' association.
Panarin said Thursday that "the players have protected the owners' income with escrow" for nearly two decades, prompting the Anaheim Ducks veteran to call for the owners to take on more accountability.
"It’s about time ... the owners need to understand we’re done paying their debts," Kesler said. "You run your team into the ground it’s on you .... if there’s a pandemic it's on the owners ... figure it out it's not a free ride."
In order to ensure teams and players split all hockey-related revenue, the NHL and NHLPA retain a percentage of players' salary, known as escrow, during the season.
Negotiations to extend the CBA have reportedly been tethered to the return-to-play talks, and Panarin said the players cannot report to training camp, which is set to open July 10, until an agreement is in place.
Kesler did not play in 2019-20 after being placed on long-term injured reserve with a hip injury in September. He has two years remaining on his current deal, which carries an average annual value of $6.875 million.
Vancouver will not serve as one of two hub cities in the NHL's return-to-play plan, the Canucks announced Thursday.
Vancouver's bid reportedly suffered a setback following talks with health authorities.
Chicago, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Toronto are the five remaining candidates after the NHL tabbed 10 cities as finalists when it unveiled its 24-team playoff plan in May.
It was reported Saturday that the league had trimmed its list to six candidates, with all three Canadian cities still in the mix.
Vancouver had appeared to be one of the leading contenders over the last couple of months. British Columbia's provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, implied in early May that she was open to the city serving as a hub for NHL games.
B.C. Premier John Horgan said less than two weeks later that he'd had "a wide-ranging call" with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the possibility of Vancouver hosting games upon the league's return.
"I have concerns not only about the health of players and their families but also about the long-term prosperity of the NHL," the New York Rangers superstar wrote Thursday in a statement on Twitter.
Panarin said certain financial issues need to be ironed out before the players show up for the start of training camps.
"For nearly two decades, the players have protected the owners' income with escrow, including throughout this pandemic crisis, even as (the) owners' equity continues to grow exponentially," the Hart Trophy contender added. "It is time to fix the escrow.
"We as players cannot report to camp to resume play without already having an agreement in place."
Despite agreeing on a 24-team playoff plan that will be played in a pair of hub cities, the NHL and NHLPA still need to come to terms on health and safety protocols. In addition, negotiations to extend the CBA have reportedly been tied to the return-to-play talks.
The NHL is currently allowing teams to hold informal skates, and reportedly expanded the maximum number of players allowed on the ice from six to 12 earlier this week. The league is eyeing July 10 for the opening of training camps.
Escrow is a percentage of NHL players' salaries withheld by the league and the NHLPA during the season to ensure teams and players evenly split hockey-related revenue.
With the Hockey Hall of Fame announcing its class of 2020 on Wednesday, it's time to examine the players who will make their debuts on the ballot in their first year of eligibility in 2021.
It's important to note that in order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a player must not have played a professional or international game in any of the three seasons leading up to his or her election. This means that although Jaromir Jagr hasn't played in the NHL since 2017-18, he's not yet eligible because he was still playing professionally in the Czech Republic during the 2019-20 season.
It's also beneficial to understand the exact criteria for selection, as detailed by The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek, who served a maximum 15-year term on the Hall of Fame committee from 2004-18: playing ability, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to his or her team or teams and the game of hockey in general.
With no disrespect to Brian Gionta, Patrick Sharp, Scott Hartnell, or Mike Fisher, here are five first-year eligible players who have a shot at the Hall of Fame in 2021.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin
Reuters/Action Images
Daniel Sedin
GP
G
A
P
1306
393
648
1041
Henrik Sedin
GP
G
A
P
1330
240
830
1070
No two players in hockey history have had greater chemistry than Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who seemingly used twin telepathy to find each other on the ice. Some of these passes are ridiculous:
Watching the Vancouver Canucks icons in their prime truly felt like watching a pair of Hall of Famers. The numbers back that up, too. Over two NHL seasons from 2009-2011, Henrik ranked first in the league with 206 points and fourth with 1.26 points per game. In that same span, Daniel ranked fourth with 189 points and second with 1.30 points per game. Henrik won a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross Trophy, while Daniel won an Art Ross Trophy and a Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award), and had a second-place finish in Hart Trophy voting.
The twins never won a Stanley Cup, but they came within one win of a title with the Canucks in 2011. They also won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006. Remember, it's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame; international contributions are part of the discussion.
But while their overall resumes are impressive, first-ballot inductions aren't guaranteed. By Hockey Reference's era-adjusted numbers, Daniel and Henrik rank 50th and 57th in all-time points, respectively. Fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson, who ranks 33rd all time in adjusted points and was superior on a per-game basis, was passed over on Wednesday for a fourth straight year.
Still, in light of the individual hardware and their contributions to the city of Vancouver and the Canucks franchise, it would be surprising if the twins don't get in on their first chance. Given that they did just about everything together during their careers, it's only right they be inducted side by side.
Prediction: First-ballot induction
Henrik Zetterberg
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
A
P
1082
337
623
960
Zetterberg was one of the premier two-way forwards of his generation. He won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy, and although he was a Selke Trophy finalist only once, he had four other top-10 finishes in voting for the award. The former Detroit Red Wings captain never finished higher than 10th in Hart Trophy voting, however, suggesting he wasn't among the game's truly elite even in his prime.
Induction into the Hall of Fame usually requires either an outstanding peak or absurd longevity. Zetterberg had neither. Even after adjusting for the era in which he played, he ranks 79th on the all-time points list. It seems as though someone like Rod Brind'Amour, who won two Selke Trophies and sits 41st on the era-adjusted points list, should get the nod ahead of him. Alfredsson and Alexander Mogilny may have more compelling cases, too.
As one of 29 players in the Triple Gold Club, Zetterberg could see his time come eventually, but he'll have to be patient.
Prediction: Inducted in 10th year of eligibility
Rick Nash
B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / Getty
GP
G
A
P
1060
437
368
805
Nash was arguably one of the best power forwards and top goal-scorers of his time. Injuries often held him back though, and he ultimately retired following his age-33 season due to concussion issues. The 6-foot-4 winger was also hamstrung by weak supporting casts throughout his prime years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He was a co-winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2003-04, but he never had an extraordinary peak, garnering just one top-10 finish in Hart Trophy voting during his career.
Nash's international resume will boost his case after he won Olympic gold with Canada in both 2010 and 2014, but it likely won't be enough to offset his lack of counting numbers and longevity.
Prediction: No induction
Caroline Ouellette
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Ouellette is one of the most decorated female players of all time. Along with Canadian teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford - both of whom are Hall of Famers - she's one of five athletes ever to win a gold medal at four straight Olympic Games. She also captained Team Canada in Sochi in 2014. In addition to her Olympic accolades, the 41-year-old owns six IIHF Women's World Championship gold medals, eight Four Nations Cup gold medals, and four Clarkson Cup Championships.
Ouellette's individual statistics further illustrate her winning pedigree. She's Canada's fifth all-time leading scorer at the Olympics and third all-time leading scorer at the worlds. The forward is also the CWHL's all-time leader in points (346), goals (143), and assists (203).
Only two women's players can be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a given year, so Ouellette may have to wait behind the likes of Canada's Jennifer Botterill and the United States' Julie Chu. But her time will come.
Prediction: Inducted in second year of eligibility
Conclusion
Denis Brodeur / National Hockey League / Getty
With the Sedins the only projected first-ballot Hall of Famers, up to two more male players could be inducted in 2021. Players who fell short in 2020 - such as Mogilny, Alfredsson, Brind'Amour, Theoren Fleury, and Sergei Gonchar - could be in for better results in 2021.
Theoretically, their chances should be slightly improved now that Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson are set to be inducted. Those selections specifically help Gonchar's case, since he arguably had a better career than both of his fellow defensemen. Mogilny's 11-year wait remains particularly puzzling, but perhaps 2021 will be his time.
Carey Price is torn on the NHL's return-to-play plan.
"I have, I think, about an equal amount of optimism and pessimism," the Montreal Canadiens goaltender said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "It's a very unusual situation. I want the opportunity to be able to play for a Stanley Cup, but I want to be able to continue living life normally."
Price is currently in Washington State training out of a WHL facility, but he plans to return to Montreal for camp, which starts in 15 days.
"We have, obviously, a unique situation right now. The NHL and NHLPA are trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Moving forward I'd like to play, but we have a lot of questions that need to be answered," he added.
Price added that a good friend of his mother died from COVID-19.
The Habs were gifted a spot in the qualifying round as the Eastern Conference's 12th seed despite posting a record of 31-31-9 in the regular season. Without Price, their chances of an upset over the high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins would be highly unlikely.
Despite posting a negative goals saved above average for just the fourth time in his career, Price won the Molson Cup as the Habs' player of the year for the ninth time. The 32-year-old went 27-25-6 with a .909 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against average, and four shutouts.
