Morning Skate: Front of the line

Friday!

We got some good news on the “playing next season” front from the NHL this week...and it was followed by a mini controversy.

I’m not even sure this qualifies as a controversy, as it’s likely just a product of there not being much else hockey-related to talk about right now.

It’s interesting that Shannon’s follow-up Tweet came more than 90 minutes after the original, in what I can’t help but think was a request for damage control from his league source.

Anyways, two things about this:

1. It’s probably worth waiting to see what the league actually does before getting mad.
2. This is 1,000,000% unsurprising, if it does come to pass.

If you think about it, (most) NHL players should be among the last people in North America to be vaccinated: young(ish), peak physical condition, etc.

Of course, as we’ve unfortunately seen, the virus doesn’t discriminate, but if you’re going by the book, NHL players should have a bit of a wait.

However, as we saw during the bubble, different rules apply to the connected people. Back then, NHL teams (and their NBA counterparts too) were somehow receiving thousands of COVID-19 tests at a time where supplies remained scarce for the general public.

This is pretty much the same situation. We’ll see the same thing among celebrities, NFL players, MLB players, you name it.

I suppose this is my roundabout way of saying that this isn’t a uniquely NHL situation. It’s more a general continuation of the haves and the have nots.

Anyways, here’s to hoping that the NHL (and the rest of the sports leagues) do the right thing when it comes to stuff like this.

What’s on tap for the weekend?

Today’s highlight

This video has it all: Team Pooh! Zdeno Chara on Ottawa! A good ol’ fashioned fracas.

Also, I give Mike Fisher credit for how he handled himself against Mike Knuble.

Today’s discussion topic

Not really a topic, but Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! Sorry I missed it yesterday.