The NHL announced on Monday that 26 different players have contracted COVID-19 since the start of Phase 2 activities in early June. This number does not include staff who have reportedly tested positive as well.
While more players across the world have begun making the trek back to North America for training camps — most recently for the Capitals Jakub Vrana, Michal Kempny, and Radko Gudas flew back from the Czech Republic — there is growing unease from players privately about resuming the season. The spread of COVID-19 in the United States is growing out of control as the US sets new daily records for positive cases. The country is not out of a first wave that has tragically killed over 125k Americans.
Players are understandably skeptical they can pull off a safe resumption of the season and Sportsnet’s Eric Engels voiced their concerns in a Twitter thread Tuesday.
Engles spoke to several players who requested anonymity to freely share their thoughts.
Over the last 2 days, I’ve been speaking with players from around the NHL who are quite concerned about a return to play. I’m going to paraphrase some of those sentiments over a few tweets here. I want to stress every player I spoke with requested anonymity for obv reasons 1/
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 30, 2020
One player said a majority of the players do not want to return to play this summer. Estimated 75%. Though they’re concerned with financial pitfalls of that decision, they’re more concerned about risking contracting the virus/serious injury before cramming in the 2021 season 2/
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 30, 2020
Another player said that calls with the NHLPA have been “a joke” and that they have only revolved around the financial situation. 3/
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 30, 2020
Another player shared the following opinion after acknowledging that players will likely vote yes to the eventual proposal that gets brought to them 4/ pic.twitter.com/5n5WiCqJNj
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 30, 2020
All players I spoke with are frustrated about being kept largely in the dark about how they’ll safely be able to resume play. 5/5
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 30, 2020
Despite a majority of the players not wanting to play, they believe the NHLPA will vote to authorize a resumption of the season, which is contradictory and sad. “Everyone’s gonna play no one is gonna opt out,” one player said to Engels. “Hockey is a different culture Then [sic] other sports no one is opting out.”
If this is true, it’s despairing. And I just want to publicly say that I will not criticize the NHLPA if they vote to not play or if any individual players (especially on the Capitals) choose to opt-out of playing. There is so much about this virus we don’t know yet. Your personal health and the health of your family and those around you matter more than entertaining fans or money.
