Colorado Avalanche: Updates on Players and the Hiatus

As the Colorado Avalanche continue on the hockey hiatus, some relevant news has come through from the NHL.

The Colorado Avalanche and all of the NHL are in Day 2 of their hiatus. Even though no hockey is being played, hockey is being discussed.

First order of business stems from the last Avalanche game. In interfering with Joonas Donskoi, Brendan Lemieux caught our winger with a an elbow to the head. The official assessed him a minor for interference on the spot. Donskoi left the game to enter concussion protocol and did not return.

The aftermath got a little lost in the wake of the hiatus news. However, the Department of Player Safety tapped Lemieux for a hearing. Today, they announced the results of that hearing:

As you see, we won’t know how many games of a suspension Lemieux will face. However, I do appreciate that the DoPS seemed to get one right for a change.

Meanwhile, the league is doing its best to stay on top of the “fluid” situation the COVID-19 pandemic presents. According to commissioner Gary Bettman, the league has a task force that “basically meets twice a day to discuss every conceivable issue that we could be dealing with.”

The recurring issue is how long the hiatus might last. No one in the NHL can even speculate because it all rests on the spread of the coronavirus. The NHL will not resume play until government officials have declared it safe to do so.

Meanwhile, another issue they’re discussing is the possibility of completing the NHL season in some manner:

“We’re looking at the calendar. We’re looking at what we think is and isn’t doable in terms of a time frame to continue to play.

Apparently the task force is modeling all the different alternatives of what the remainder of the season can look like and changing it as time progresses. “The model is changing every day,” Bettman says.

One of the questions I raised in my reaction to the season’s suspension was what happens with the players. Some clarification has come through:

So, the players are expected to stay in their team cities unless they’re separated from family because their “club city residence is only temporary at this point.” I guess that relates to players staying in hotels because they just got traded here or they’re on loan from their AHL team. That could impact goalie Michael Hutchinson and forward Vladislav Namestnikov. Both are rentals, and I don’t know if they moved families out here.

More from Mile High Sticking

• Could Colorado Avalanche move on from Pavel Francouz next offseason?
• 4 goalies to replace Pavel Francouz if he has to miss time
• Colorado Avalanche make sneaky signing with Tatar
• Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could return in 2023-24 playoffs
• Colorado Avalanche rookie face-off tournament roster

It also sounds right now like players are being encouraged to stay home. I’m not sure if they’re allowed to work out or seek rehabilitation in private facilities. I’d imagine all players have access to at least some workout equipment at home. However, the statement makes it sound like players should resume training in the future.

The bigger question is the injured players — are they allowed to go out and get PT? Their rehabilitation can be negatively impacted if they’re not.

Unfortunately, the NHL is talking about evaluations in “weeks” terms. As Colorado Avalanche fans, we all know “week-to-week” never bodes well.

***UPDATE*** (Because things really are very fluid

The NHL Players’ Association has announced teams might be able to open their training facilities as early as next week. The time will give them a chance to thoroughly clean and disinfect the facilities. Players have been advised to stay home to avoid contacting the virus.

I’m going to guess the practices will be closed to the public. I’m also going to guess the Colorado Avalanche in particular might have to take over the whole facility — they practice at the South Suburban Family Sports Center, which is open to the public for golfing and play.

I know a lot of people are feeling down because of the absence of hockey — or any sport, for that matter. I hope you’re taking the time to reconnect with others in your life or enjoy some peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, how about our captain, as always doing his best to brig together the Colorado Avalanche community:

Be like Landy and try to make the best of this pause. Hopefully, the hiatus will be over soon as the pandemic ebbs.