Players will be allowed outside the bubble after 14-day quarantine!

NHL teams are moving into two “hub” cities starting Sunday, ahead of Stanley Cup playoff games being played inside two empty arenas. Toronto hosts the Eastern Conference and Edmonton hosts the Western Conference, and eventually, the conference and Stanley Cup finals.

It was first reported that there would be strict rules : daily testing for everyone inside the “bubbles” where teams will live, practice and play; strict quarantines for anyone who tests positive; and restrictions on how and where players can enjoy their down time, as they are prohibited from leaving the bubbles without permission.

There were even talks that players who leave the secure zone without permission might be subject to consequences up to and including the removal from the bubble; or in other cases, strict quarantines of up to 10-14 days. There has also been chatter on potential penalties for teams whose players violate rules of the bubble, with a threat of fines and loss of draft picks.

However, reporter Chris Johnston reports on Wednesday morning an important altercation to the bubble lifestyle, revealing that “there won’t be any excursions outside the “secure zone” for players until 14 days after arrival in Toronto or Edmonton because of quarantine restrictions. After that, they’ll be permitted golf and other pre-arranged activities.”

While the news points out pre-arranged activities, there remains fear that players or staff members could come in contact with someone affected by coronavirus and could therefore contaminate the bubble in either Toronto or Edmonton. 

We get that the league is trying to make players happy by allowing them some much appreciated free time during the postseason, however, these are unprecedented times. We never know what could happen in an uncontrolled area. 

A daily test could result positive during the playoff run, and imagine any team losing a star player that contracted the virus and is not left off the lineup for a significant stretch of time. 

Players will have to be careful, even if the new rule allows more freedom in the protocol.