Positive COVID-19 tests on the Dallas Stars is a warning for the New York Rangers and all NHL teams
The announcement was inevitable and thank the hockey gods it didn’t involve the New York Rangers. Six Dallas Stars players and two other team personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus and the Dallas training camp has been shut down with a probable delay to the start of their season until after January 19.
Here’s the official statement from the NHL:
"“The National Hockey League announced today that six Dallas Stars players and two staff members have recently confirmed positive tests for the COVID-19 virus. Those individuals are self-isolating and following CDC and League protocols. As a result of the positive tests, and as an appropriate precaution, the team’s training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for several days while further daily testing and contact tracing is conducted. The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the Stars’ regular season schedule with the expectation that the team will not open its 2020-21 season earlier than Tuesday, January 19.The Stars organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies.”"
The NHL schedule makers are in scramble mode as the Stars were supposed to open their season on January 14-15 with two games in Florida, followed by two games in Tampa. That means that Dallas will have to reschedule at least three games in an already tight time frame. The Panthers will have to squeeze in two games and the Lightning at least one.
Ironically, Dallas has been one of the markets where fans will be allowed into arenas with a limit of about 5,000.
This will be the norm
This won’t be the exception, it could easily be the rule. No matter how cautious teams will be, they will not be in a bubble and will be traveling throughout their regions, exposing players and personnel to opportunities to get the virus. It’s going to be a challenge.
In looking at the Dallas schedule, it’s very possible that they will have to play at the Panthers four straight days in February. Any more postponements and it could get very ugly. When it comes to make up dates, the Rangers have seven instances of two consecutive days off and once they will be off for three straight days.
The good news is that it appears that there have been no COVID-related cases on the Rangers though we still don’t know the status of Mika Zibanejad, Keith Kinkaid and Justin Richards. Coach David Quinn has said that he expects the trio to be on the ice any day.
This is only the first of what will be a steady stream of reports like this. We can only hope that the Rangers can keep it to a minimum.