In light of the NBA and various other leagues opting to postpone games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the NHL has followed suit by postponing Thursday's Game 3 matchups (Flyers vs. Islanders and Golden Knights vs. Canucks) and Friday's Game 4 matchups (Lightning vs. Bruins and Avalanche vs. Stars).
The NHL and NHLPA has released the following joint statement.
Statement from the National Hockey League Players' Association and National Hockey League. https://t.co/uV1F5iDeUS pic.twitter.com/JS2t0MvUij
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 27, 2020
After the NHL decided to move forward with a pair of Game 3 contests Wednesday despite the postponement of games in several other leagues including the NBA and MLB, Evander Kane, Matt Dumba, Anthony Duclair and Wayne Simmonds of the Hockey Diversity Alliance all called for the league to suspend future contests.
We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoff games today. We strongly feel this sends a clear message that human rights take priority over sports.
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) August 27, 2020
We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoff games today. We strongly feel this sends a clear message that human rights take priority over sports.
— Matt Dumba (@matt_dumba) August 27, 2020
We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoffs games today. We strongly feel this sends a clear message to that human rights take priority over sports. We should not stay silent towards systemic racism and any racial inequalities in our society.
— Anthony Duclair (@aduclair10) August 27, 2020
We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoff games today. We strongly feel this sends a clear message that human rights take priority over sports.
— Wayne Simmonds (@Simmonds17) August 27, 2020
As reported by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Kane and Dumba spoke to over 100 players currently in the bubble in Toronto and Edmonton via a call Thursday afternoon. Additionally, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, players were told as early as 1 pm CDT on Thursday to prepare for cancellations.
More than 100 players in the bubble had a call with Evander Kane and Matt Dumba this afternoon.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) August 27, 2020
Players being told to prepare for cancellations tonight
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 27, 2020
Rumblings of this decision began when several teams, including Dallas, Vancouver and Vegas pushed back their media availabilities Thursday morning.
Stars media availability today was originally scheduled for 1:30 CT. It's been pushed back to later in afternoon, presumably after whatever the NHL's plan for today is finalized
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) August 27, 2020
The NHL announces that the Golden Knights' media availability has been delayed and the team is scheduled to skate in later today. #VegasBorn https://t.co/yStzhO6khm
— David Schoen 📰🗞🏒 (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) August 27, 2020
Golden Knights and Canucks have changed their scheduled pre-game Zoom media calls with media this aft. to TBA status as NHL players and teams discuss tonight's schedule.
— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) August 27, 2020
The NHL will return to play Saturday.
