After three weeks away from the rink, the Vancouver Canucks are set to return to the ice on Friday night when they host the Oilers. That will kick off a stretch in which the team is set to play 19 games in 31 days, a schedule that’s unheard of even during this condensed season.
Personally, I’m not even that excited about their return since I’m worried about players potentially getting injured due to playing so much in such a shortened period of time. Also, many of them likely won’t be comfortable with competing again this year, and I certainly don’t blame them for it; getting back on the ice will only increase the chances that they’ll contract COVID for the second time, and I hope that no one is being pressured to come back.
With that in mind, it’s important to remember that Vancouver will be extremely rusty and not fully recovered from the effects of the virus when they start playing again, so fans need to cut the team some slack and not give them a hard time when they inevitably struggle.
J.T. Miller echoed a similar sentiment during his media availability yesterday, as the priority for the rest of this year should be to finish the season with everyone healthy and not worry about the playoffs.
“I hope people don’t take this the wrong way, I’m a super competitive guy... but this isn’t about hockey for our team. This is about the health and safety of our players, their family and their children. This isn’t about making the playoffs.” - J.T. Miller #Canucks
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 14, 2021
Remember, most of the team just contracted a virus that makes it difficult to breathe, let alone play arguably the most gruelling sport on the planet. The priority should be on Vancouver’s safety and not their on-ice results.
“This is hard for me and those of us (that didn’t get COVID)” says Miller.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 14, 2021
He’s thinking about how much worse it would be for his teammates that test positive and “those that are struggling to breathe going up and down steps.”
I’m just worried about our teams safety.” #Canucks
So when players look gassed on the ice and aren’t performing to their usual standards, please keep in mind the mental and physical toll that they’ve gone through over the past few weeks and don’t criticize them.
In fact, many skaters might need the entire upcoming offseason to fully recover from this brutal illness, and I just hope that there won’t be any long-term effects of COVID.
Sekeres says Quinn Hughes had the roughest go with Covid. He had to use an IV, lost body weight. #canucks
— BuckFoston (@BuckFoston_) April 13, 2021
So please, don’t be harsh on the players when they lose most of their remaining games. Remember the human element and the fact that the NHL’s decision to even have them play a full 56-game season is extremely idiotic given the dire circumstances.
As always, we’ll have you up to date with everything Canucks related, but I just hope that the team makes it through the season without another outbreak or any significant injuries.