Carey Price. That’s right, Carey Price.
For it is largely due to the remarkable reputation of the Montreal goaltender among his peers that much talk about the format of what appears to be a summer 24-team tournament has fixated on how unfair it would be to face Price in a best-of-three, multiple sources report.
We are told there is growing support for a best-of-five first round that would, to a degree, temper the impact of a hot goaltender in a short series. Price, who routinely tops players’ polls, is one of 10 netminders to have played in at least 60 postseason matches. He ranks eighth in save percentage (.914) and goals against average (2.53) with the fewest wins of the group while going 25-31. But perception in this case is reality.
The sides have not yet nailed down the specifics of testing, but we’re told that there will be frequent testing with rapid turnaround in the league’s hub cities. It is not yet decided the number of centralized locations in which the NHL will operate — probably two or four — but readiness and availability of labs and proper medical personnel are necessary components of the hub sites’ proposals to act as hosts.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly has previously said that even multiple positive tests will not necessarily require cancellation of play. But rest assured no one wants to put that to the test.
Beyond that, figuring out the testing for Phase II, when players may voluntarily report to their respective teams’ practice facilities, is much more dicey. Those plans have yet to be developed.
Most of the focus from both the NHL and NHLPA has been on the format, testing and health-related issues. There are outstanding issues, but the parties each have devoted a significant amount of time on specifics. Certainly there is an awareness on the players’ side of the increased risk they are taking, but there is also strong support for returning to the ice.
Much of the discussion, as well, has regarded escrow and the possibility of extending the collective bargaining agreement that expires following 2021-22. The Post has learned that the parties have discussed the concept of placing a cap on escrow as part of an extension. Under terms of the current CBA, the players are responsible for making up the 2019-20 carryover escrow next year. The players would obviously prefer to extend the payment over multiple seasons.
We’re told the anticipated escrow cap offer would be higher than 25 percent. The parties have been preoccupied with the escrow issue at the expense of give-and-take on other CBA-related matters.
There has been little discussion between the parties about the rules of engagement under which the games will be played this summer. Baseball is prepared to institute social-distancing away from the field and is discouraging all but the most necessary contact — no handshakes, no high fives. How is this going to work in hockey? It obviously can’t and still be hockey. So both sides here have many challenges.
There is also the matter of changing contract expiration dates so that players don’t become free agents on July 1. The teams and union are in contact with government authorities about extending work visas that expire June 30, but that is an outstanding issue.
Tuesday’s declaration that the US-Canadian border would remain closed to nonessential travel for another month, through June 21, probably won’t have great impact on the NHL, given how anxious US government authorities seem to be for a return of pro sports.
But there is that to consider. There is the 14-day self-quarantine when crossing the border to Canada to consider. There are travel restrictions and potential self-isolation regarding players returning from Europe with which to deal.
In other words, there is much to be done before the puck can be dropped.