Canadian premier confirms that NHL has reached out to schedule games in province

The NHL has stepped away from tentative plan to use non-NHL rinks in “neutral sites” for the resumption of the 2019-20 season, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.

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Confirming @FriedgeHNIC report that the NHL's "neutral site" (i.e. non-NHL arena) plan for summer restart is dead. No North Dakota. No New Hampshire.

Plan never got out of the concept stages due to lack of accommodations, and challenges in staging and televising games.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 22, 2020

Further to that Wyshynski also reports that the league is pushing forward with a plan that would see two to four NHL arenas host games to enable the remainder of the regular season and Playoffs.

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Latest push is for NHL to return to 2-4 of its arenas in areas where the COVID-19 outbreak has been managed and restrictions would allow it. Very much targeting completion of the regular season. No timetable. NHLPA needs to sign off on any of it.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 22, 2020

Now that’s interesting… so who would host these games? Most Canadian markets have done an excellent job of flattening the curve and limiting the outbreak. In fact, in all of Manitoba there are only six confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Would the Winnipeg Jets make a good host? You have to imagine that Toronto is being considered, Montreal and in fact all of Quebec has been hit hard by the virus though. Vancouver is well situated for Western Conference teams, but Edmonton and Calgary have to both be in consideration, as well.

Two teams that have confirmed to be in discussions with the NHL though are the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild.

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Per league source, the Coyotes have expressed interest in Arizona serving as a host site for the continuation of the NHL season.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) April 22, 2020

yeah, minnesota in consideration as one of the sites. sources say 2/3 of nhl cities eliminated from consideration as of now
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 22, 2020

Interesting…

Again, both locations are fairly central and have the infrastructure to support an influx of players and staff.

Alberta premier Jason Kenney confirmed that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reached out to him to discuss the potential of scheduling games in the province.

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Alberta Premier @jkenney says he received a call from @NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who asked questions about Alberta’s status in combatting COVID-19. Kenney says no formal proposal to play NHL games in Alberta has been presented. pic.twitter.com/D9HS0ejSXq
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) April 22, 2020

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan confirmed that indeed Edmonton is in consideration, along with Raleigh and Minnesota.

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Hearing the favorites are Raleigh, Minnesota, Edmonton and TBD in the Atlantic Division https://t.co/ZbiIXDycHQ
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) April 22, 2020

Another consideration: Buffalo. The Sabres’ home arena, KeyBank Center, is attached to a building that houses two additional ice rinks, a Marriott hotel and a world class gym and training facility. In effect, the players would never need to leave the premises.

Stay tuned, hockey fans. More to come on this story.