Players could refuse to return to action when play resumes

While the NHL is still working hard to save the 2019-20 season and hold the playoffs to crown a Stanley Cup champion,  Montreal Canadiens forward Phillip Danault revealed that he is uncertain about the decision to resume play. 

In an interview, Danault admitted that he would really not be enthusiastic about leaving his family in a time of crises for a few months while having to be confined to a hotel in another city, far from his family.

Danault is a new father and we can surely understand how he’d want to remain at home with his family, however, he believes he is not the only one with this opinion. The Habs forward believes that if there was a vote amongst players, it is not certain that the majority would accept to leave and resume play under such conditions.

“Some players could be away from their families three to four months, which I think is way too much, and I’m not the only one thinking like that, I’m sure.”

The Canadiens forward therefore joins defensemen Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks to publicly express concerns about the resumption of NHL activities this summer. 

But as you may have realized already, these are players who have known for a long time that they have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup and who have already been eliminated for some time.

It remains to be seen if some contenders feel the same way… 

“Any playoff team will say they want to finish the season,” added Danault.