Rumor: Leafs will avoid the worst of Toronto's 28-day lockdown.

The city of Toronto has just enacted emergency measures that have many concerned about the impact it could have on the start of the 2021 National Hockey League season, but the latest appears to suggest that the Leafs are going to avoid the worst of it. 

In case you missed the news on Friday of last week, Ontario premier Doug Ford announced that he would be locking down Canada's largest city for a whopping 28 days. Ford has imposed some pretty restrictive measures including a full ban on all indoor gatherings as well as the shutting of shops, restaurants and other businesses. Given that the Leafs play in the city of Toronto and especially considering that NHL training camps are expected to start within that 28 day time frame, you can easily see why people were concerned. 

That being said however it sounds like the Leafs, for better or for worse, will be receiving special treatment from the province of Ontario as will all professional athletes. Recently the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta spoke to a Toronto city official and was able to confirm that the Leafs will not be included in the ban, and will be able to resume training camp when the NHL is expected to begin those in December.

"Under provincial orders, professional athletes & teams are exempt from the lockdown orders under sports & recreation, and can continue to practice," said the unnamed official.

I can already see how this is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way, especially those who are currently suffering as a result of the lockdowns being imposed by their local governments. It is no secret that many people are out of work, have businesses that are failing, or have lost their livelihoods entirely as a result of this pandemic and seeing pro athletes getting special treatment is definitely a tough pill to swallow for anyone under those circumstances. 

That being said pro sports teams employ hundreds of people directly and there are thousands more who earn a living as a result of those businesses thriving, so I can also see an argument for the other side as well. 

For better or worse it sounds like Maple Leafs hockey is going to move forward without a hitch.