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The stages are set #StanleyCup
— NHL (@NHL) July 26, 2020
➡ Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
⬅ Rogers Place in Edmonton pic.twitter.com/7eE4peXBW6
With the 24 NHL post-season teams now inside the bubble zones for the Eastern and Western Conferences in Toronto and Edmonton, they now prepare for a series of exhibition games starting Tuesday. The Canucks will take on the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday night, as they prepare for their best of 5 series against the Minnesota Wild.
With these unique circumstances, it’s required the NHL to rethink the way the game is presented, which is going to see some pretty neat changes to the broadcasts...
Now, this could all unravel quickly with any sort of outbreak. And we’re going to see just how bad this could get as we watch the unfolding situation in MLB this morning:
Eight more players and two coaches with the Miami Marlins have tested positive for COVID-19, as an outbreak has spread throughout their clubhouse and brought the total of cases in recent days to at least 14, sources familiar with the situation tell me and @JesseRogersESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2020
This is bad, and if it’s spread to other teams (you know, like the one the Marlins played LAST NIGHT, despite cases already having been confirmed a couple days ago), it could see their whole plan come to a screeching halt.
Here’s what Rob Manfred told @dpshow on what it would take to consider shutting down the season https://t.co/HPJnGTPhC7 pic.twitter.com/XimeLQtCFT
— Mike Ferrin (@Mike_Ferrin) July 27, 2020
Meanwhile, the Canucks opponent in this tournament are getting a prized prospect added to their roster:
Sounds like #mnwild prospect Kiril Kaprizov could be flying from Russia to Canada tomorrow
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 26, 2020
“Maybe,” says source
Big question is if he connects right away to Edmonton on tourist visa or goes to consulate to get P1 visa so he could then come to Minnesota after playoffs
(1/2)
Once Kaprizov gets to Edmonton, he’s likely be subject to NHL-mandated 7-day quarantine – 4 negative tests on 4 consecutive days while confined to his room, followed by 3 days of limited interactions & individual, non-team conditioning. Integration w/ #mnwild on Day 8
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 26, 2020
And speaking of prospects, the Canucks have loaned Nils Hoglander to his SHL squad:
Minor → Loan
— CapFriendly Transactions (@CF_Transactions) July 27, 2020
Nils Höglander (LW) | VAN#Canuckshttps://t.co/uq1OuwENuz
While today’s NHL continually frowns on players showing even a hint of personality and flair, they said goodbye yesterday to one of the all-time greats in terms of being colourful and a must watch everytime he was on the ice, the one and only Eddie Shack.
"There would always be a group of people around him, he was just that kind of character that would attract people."@SNChrisSimpson on the late NHL great Eddie Shack with @ScottyMacThinks & Tim Leiper.
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) July 27, 2020
⤵️https://t.co/OWMBe4ZLx3 pic.twitter.com/IZQ92nN5DE
NHL Network was showing Quinn Hughes a little love:
“He’s one of the best defensemen in the game.”
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 26, 2020
And he's only a ROOKIE! We expect to see great things from Quinn Hughes for years to come. @Canucks | #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/0UvclhhQLe
And in case you missed it yesterday, these are the bubble boys for the Canucks:
The official #Canucks roster for the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/rqB1GZBRrV
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) July 26, 2020
Being apart from their families until possibly October could be tough, so the NHL is trying to cushion the blow with some nice personal touches:
It appears the NHL dressed up players’ hotel rooms with family photos: pic.twitter.com/jEN3c8kaH2
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) July 26, 2020
And while there’s a lot of things that appear to be going well, there’s a garbage fire in the desert after yesterday’s debacle with the resignation of GM John Chayka:
A Statement from the Arizona Coyotes:https://t.co/3s9thGBufd
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) July 26, 2020
Now, compare that in tone to Chayka’s statement:
In a statement, #Yotes say John Chayka has “quit” as GM and the team is “disappointed” in his actions and timing. Steve Sullivan takes over as interim GM. pic.twitter.com/xxAILdfvHE
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 26, 2020
It will take a while for the dust to settle, and when it does we’ll find out more about the how and why all this went down, but it’s another ugly chapter in the prize jewel of Gary Bettman’s ‘Growing The Game’ legacy.
JPat was on TSN1040 this morning talking about Micheal Ferland:
"He looks and sounds like a totally different Micheal Ferland now. It was fascinating to listen to him-it made me wish he had been around the team more this season"@patersonjeff tells @HalfordTSN @JasonBroughTSN why Ferland's 2nd week of camp was so encouraging for the #Canucks pic.twitter.com/vOG2QuG4K9
— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) July 27, 2020