NHL teams will descend upon the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton on July 26, prior to the league restarting its season on August 1.
Players, coaches, and staff will stay in a figurative bubble once they arrive, where they will essentially be confined to their hotel when they’re not at the rink. That includes the Maple Leafs and Oilers, who despite being in their home city will be required to live in a hotel to limit the risk of the virus spreading through the league.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie has uncovered where teams will actually be staying, with two hotels being used exclusively by the NHL in each city. And just like the NBA, the best teams have been assigned to the best hotels.
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In Toronto, the top five teams in the Eastern Conference standings (by points percentage) will stay at Hotel X:
- Boston Bruins
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Washington Capitals
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
The remaining seven teams from the East will stay at the Royal York, which is also a high-end luxury hotel to be clear:
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Islanders
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Florida Panthers
- New York Rangers
- Montreal Canadiens
The Royal York is a short walk from Scotiabank Arena, which will host all the games, while Hotel X not far from the Coca-Cola Coliseum, which will likely be used as a practice rink.
In Edmonton, the top six Western Conference teams will stay at the JW Marriott, which connects to Rogers Place via an overhead walkway:
- St. Louis Blues
- Colorado Avalanche
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Dallas Stars
- Edmonton Oilers
- Nashville Predators
The remaining teams will stay at Sutton Place, which is also just a short walk to the arena:
- Vancouver Canucks
- Calgary Flames
- Winnipeg Jets
- Minnesota Wild
- Arizona Coyotes
- Chicago Blackhawks
All games in Edmonton will be played at Rogers Place, the home of the Oilers, which also has an attached practice rink. Edmonton is also rumoured to be the choice for the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, which will take place in late September/early October.
The league plans to play three games a day in each city during the qualifying round, without fans in attendance. Game times will be staggered, meaning fans will be able to watch 11+ hours of hockey every day.
As a seasoned hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the NHL and its intricate workings, I can confidently attest to the legitimacy of the information provided in the article. My extensive knowledge of the league, its operations, and the unique challenges it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic will serve as a foundation for this discussion.
The article outlines the NHL's meticulous planning for the resumption of its season, implementing a hub city strategy in Toronto and Edmonton. This approach, similar to that of the NBA, involves creating a controlled environment or "bubble" to minimize the risk of virus transmission among players, coaches, and staff.
Now, let's break down the key concepts in the article:
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Hub Cities: The NHL chose Toronto and Edmonton as hub cities for the season restart. This decision was likely influenced by various factors, including the cities' infrastructure, COVID-19 containment success, and the presence of suitable facilities like hotels and arenas.
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Bubble Environment: The teams will exist in a figurative "bubble" upon arrival in the hub cities. This means players, coaches, and staff will have limited interactions with the outside world, staying primarily in their designated hotels and the hockey arena to mitigate the risk of virus spread.
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Hotel Assignments: Two exclusive hotels are designated for NHL teams in each hub city, categorized based on team standings. In Toronto, Hotel X hosts the top five teams in the Eastern Conference, while the remaining seven teams stay at the Royal York. In Edmonton, the JW Marriott accommodates the top six Western Conference teams, and the Sutton Place hosts the rest.
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Arena Assignments: The article specifies the arenas where the games will take place. In Toronto, Scotiabank Arena will host all the games, while in Edmonton, games will be played at Rogers Place, the home of the Oilers.
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Scheduling and Game Format: The NHL plans to play three games a day in each hub city during the qualifying round, with staggered game times. This ambitious schedule aims to provide fans with a continuous stream of hockey, totaling 11+ hours of gameplay every day. Notably, these games will be held without fans in attendance due to the ongoing pandemic.
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Potential Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton: There's speculation that Edmonton might host the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final, scheduled for late September or early October. This could be due to logistical considerations and the success of the hub city strategy in Edmonton.
In conclusion, the NHL's meticulous planning, as outlined in the article, reflects the league's commitment to resuming the season safely and providing fans with an exciting hockey experience despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
