Jets’ playoff push on hold as NHL suspends season

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This article was published 12/03/2020 (2055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Moving with the speed and subtlety of a runaway bus, the coronavirus has forced NHL players to clear the road, pack up their stuff and head home for the foreseeable future.

Expect no exuberant shouts of, ‘Game on!’ any time soon.

Indeed, rinks will be shuttered indefinitely after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman pushed the pause button Thursday on the 2019-20 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The NHL board of governors’ decision comes a day after the NBA suspended its season when news broke that a member of the Utah Jazz had tested positive for the virus.

There is no time frame on when the NHL’s 31 clubs will return to the ice.

“The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measure,” Bettman said in statement. “However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus — and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.”

Winnipeg Jets co-owner/chairman Mark Chipman, the team’s representative with the league’s board of governors, said the decision to halt NHL action was an easy one.

“It wasn’t difficult at all, no. Both league meetings were very brief. There were a few questions, understandably, about logistics and what this all means. Frankly, there is a great deal of work to do to sort those details out on such short notice. The league is committed to getting more and more information to us in a short period of time. We expect to learn more and know more with each passing hour,” said Chipman.

The Jets, who extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-2 triumph over the Oilers on Wednesday, flew home from Edmonton on Thursday afternoon. Winnipeg was slated to play in Calgary on Saturday and Vancouver on Sunday.

All 31 teams were told early Thursday to cancel practices and pre-game skates. 

Meanwhile, the AHL has also suspended play. The Jets’ affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, were en route home from Milwaukee on Thursday.

The Jets hold down the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, however, Chipman pointed out the health of fans, players and staff takes precedent.

“I’m really proud of the way our team’s played this year. It’s really regrettable we’re here today, but these are much, much larger issues. It’s not only just talking to other people from other teams, but the feelings run the same right through our group, our players feel very much the same way. They’re the ones that are literally out there giving of themselves 82 times a year,” he said.

“It’s particularly difficult, I think, for those guys who have come this far and to now be told they have to pause play. But I talked to (captain) Blake (Wheeler) this morning and he gets it, he completely understands.

“They’re human beings who have children and families and parents and they’re all far more interested in the greater issues that we’re all facing than playing hockey right now,” Chipman added.

No member of the Jets organization has been tested for the coronavirus to date, and it’s believed no NHL players have been stricken with the virus.

A player agent told the Free Press he fielded plenty of calls and texts from clients overnight Wednesday and well into Thursday morning, many wondering if they were still eligible to get paid. 

“Tons of questions, tons. I’ve been in contact overnight, all hours, questions from their different time zones. The news has been moving so fast, it’s been an interesting day or two here. Some are asking, “Hey, are we getting paid?” said the agent, who asked that his name not be used. “I haven’t noticed anyone panicking from the players’ side. The guys are all very calm, but everyone’s concerned, of course, and they all want to do what’s right for the general public.”

Chipman confirmed player contracts remain valid and paycheques will go out as per usual.

The Jets still have 11 games on the schedule, including four at Bell MTS Place. It’s unclear what effect the interruption will have on teams’ ability to play all 82 regular-season games, or when the post-season might commence.

Winnipeg has set aside dates to run well into the summer.

“I can tell you that, yeah, I can see it going into July. We’ve supplied July dates to the league and other teams have, so that’s not inconceivable,” said Chipman.

Jets ticket-holders are being asked to keep their tickets and until a final decision is made on whether the 2019-20 campaign will resume.

Chipman said because of the loss of home dates and the potential for concerts and other events at the downtown arena to be scrapped, True North’s bottom line will take a hit.

“Suffice to say if we’re not able to return to play, the outcome would be significant. Can’t put a number on it, though,” he said, adding while no full-time staff have been laid off, game-day staff are only paid when they work.

Jets players had a previously scheduled day off Thursday and weren’t available for comment. But Winnipeg product Brendan Leipsic, 25, a winger with the Washington Capitals, said the shutdown came without much warning.

“It happened quickly. I only started hearing about it once the pro teams in Italy were getting affected by it, and then it started creeping in over here. Then (Wednesday) night it was a pretty big surprise that the NBA player had it,” said Leipsic, who has three goals and 11 points in 61 games but has been a healthy scratch since the Caps acquired Ilya Kovalchuk at the trade deadline.

“We share the same facility as the (Washington) Wizards (of the NBA) and that’s no different than a lot of teams. So, it was kind of a no-brainer for the NHL. You can never be too careful because there’s still a lot of stuff they don’t know about it and they’re trying to limit contact as much as possible. It’s the right thing to do to make sure everyone’s safe. It’s good everyone’s on board.”

The union that represents NHL players applauded the league’s decision.

“The decision to temporarily suspend play due to the COVID-19 pandemic is an appropriate course of action at this time. The NHLPA will continue to closely monitor this very dynamic situation and remain in daily discussions with the league, our medical consultants, and our players regarding all aspects of this matter,” the NHL Players Association acknowledged in a statement.

“The players are looking forward to the opportunity to resume play in front of hockey fans everywhere.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell