Canucks: NHL looking at Vancouver to host games

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is looking at Vancouver as a potential hub city for NHL Teams if the season continues

The Vancouver Canucks, along with the rest of the NHL and many other major sports leagues around the world, have had play suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vancouver’ last game took place on March 10, when they defeated the visiting New York Islanders in a shootout by a final score of 5-4.

Before the season went on pause, Vancouver sat ninth in the Western Conference with 78 points, tied with the Nashville Predators for the eighth and final playoff spot. Nashville holds the tiebreaker due to one extra regulation win.

With no hockey on, players are figuratively anxious to get back on the ice.

Vancouver and B.C. seen as potential hub

Commissioner Gary Bettman remains committed to continuing the season, adding that he isn’t “contemplating” a cancellation.

If the season were to continue, Canuck games would be played without any fans in attendance. The NHL is looking at potential cities to become “hubs” to host games. Possible options include Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.

B.C. Premier John Horgan has been in talks with Bettman for the last few days and will continue to do so in the next coming weeks.

“The NHL has a good track record in Vancouver,” Horgan explained, via Richard Zussman of Global News. “The 50th year of the (Vancouver Canucks) franchise is this year. What a great way to celebrate that 50 years, to bring hockey back to Canada and North America, to bring hockey back to B.C.”

Horgan has told Bettman that the province is well positioned to host games with B.C. slowly starting to flattening the curve.The Canucks home venue, Rogers Arena and other arenas across the province would be venues for potential games.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, says that is a good idea in theory. But the NHL coming to Vancouver would depend on where the province is in their phases, and they’d have to see a detailed plan first.

“The sky’s really the limit,” Horgan said, per CBC. “I wanted to let the commissioner know that British Columbia stands ready to assist in looking at a plan brought forward by the players and the NHL. If we can make it work, I think it would be great for B.C. and great for the NHL.”

Horgan will likely discuss this matter with Bettman over the coming days and weeks. On Wednesday, it was reported that there were 16 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.

Hub comes with challenges

As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman pointed out in his 31 Thoughts column last week, players aren’t keen on doing “months of quarantine without their families.” This is one of the many issues with no easy solution. The league would have to implement the ideal measures to ensure that the players and teams are traveling safely to and back from games.

The health and safety of the players would be the most important and it could mean players (as well as team staff, arena staff and media) would have to be follow strict health guidelines.

The league also needs to figure out if they want to continue the regular season or go straight into the playoffs (and decide on which format.)

It isn’t all set in stone yet. The premier will continue to speak to Bettman, but we could potentially have the Canucks and hockey back in the summer months. Bettman will also have discussions with the NHLPA as well. Until then, we continue to await more information.