Analyst suggests NHL would be wise to put both hub cities in Canada

With word Friday that the Tampa Bay Lightning had to shut down its practice facility after as many as five players and staff tested positive for COVID-19, and that Toronto's Auston Matthews had tested positive in Arizona, came a lot of chatter on the internet regarding the NHL's plans to return this summer to finish off the 2019-20 season. Many believe it's now in jeopardy with the latest news, but the league itself has yet to make any kind of statement regarding the positive tests. However, one suggestion from TSN hockey analyst Shawn Simpson is getting some attention and causing some debate.

"The NHL would be a lot smarter to use two Canadian hub cities, like Calgary & Edmonton," Simpson posted on Twitter. "Get players and teams out of the US as quick as possible."

There have now been around 2.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, as well as more than 120,000 deaths. By comparison, Canada has had around 100,000 confirmed cases of the Corona virus, with around 8500 deaths. This is a stark contrast, to say the least, even accounting for the difference in population.

The Canadian government has approved the NHL's plan for "cohort quarantining" should a Canadian city be chosen as one of two hub cities for the Return to Play plan. Cohort quarantining would keep players separate from the general public, but allow them to stay in a bubble together, bypassing the traditional 14-day quarantine separate from anyone and everyone for those entering Canada.

It seems most likely that the NHL wants one hub city in the U.S. (Vegas has been rumoured to be the American city with an official announcement coming Monday) and another in Canada. However, Friday's news of positive cases in Tampa Bay, combined with the fact that several U.S. states are seeing increases (and in some cases, big increases) in positive cases, may force a change in those plans.

Meanwhile, player agent Allan Walsh told TSN690 Friday that he believes the idea of putting both hub cities in Canada is an idea that NHL and the NHLPA are now considering.

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