After a Washington Capitals practice three weeks ago, reporters filed into a private room at MedStar Capitals Iceplex to interview Nicklas Backstrom and other players while practicing safe social distancing. It was March 11, after the NHL temporarily banned reporters from entering locker rooms due to the new coronavirus — but before the league and other sports around the U.S. and the world were suspended as it grew into a pandemic.
On Wednesday, Backstrom instead spoke to reporters from his home via conference call, where he said the best-case scenario for the Capitals and the NHL would be to finish the season, even if that means playing into the summer.
“You obviously want to finish the season with a champion,” Backstrom said. “That doesn’t change anything. Whether we play midsummer, you want to do it. You want to have a champion this year if possible, that’s for sure.”
A recent report from Canadian outlet TSN said some NHL players were pitching a revised schedule that would let them resume hockey activities with a training camp in July, followed by the playoffs in August and the Stanley Cup being awarded in September. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league will complete the season up to and including a Stanley Cup Final, and the league asked its teams for arena availability dates through August.
“We think if we were required to, we might have the ability to play in August,” Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “If we have to fit games in, we’ll find ways to fit games in.”
Further, with the 2020 Summer Olympics postponed a year, NBC — which owns NHL broadcast rights in the U.S. — would have some open time in July and August to air NHL games.
However it goes, Backstrom favored a training camp period to be held before the season resumed so players could get back into game shape.
“You’ve just got to make it as easy as possible, but you’ve got to have some exhibition games before because otherwise, jumping straight in the playoffs, it’s going to be a little tough I think,” he said.
Backstrom recalled the strange day he and his teammates had on March 12. They were supposed to host the Detroit Red Wings for a game that night, but by that afternoon, many sports had followed the NBA in calling games off, including March Madness and Major League Soccer.
Finally, word came down from the NHL.
“It was weird,” he said. “You’re coming in on a game day and trying to get prepared, but at the same time we were like, ’Is there going to be a game? What’s going on? Are we going to play with no fans?’ It was just a weird day. And then after that, it was ’All right, go home. See you later.’”
The break hasn’t been all wasted time for Backstrom. A few days ago, Backstrom’s fiancee Liza Berg delivered the couple’s third child, a daughter named Alizee. They had hoped Berg’s family could fly in from Europe for the birth, but by that time the U.S. had closed its borders to travelers from more than 20 European countries due to the pandemic.
“So that was a tough hit for us, but at the same time, it is all about being safe and so far they are doing good,” Backstrom said. “I think all over Europe and U.S. together, keeping the rules pretty much the same and trying to avoid being out too much and meeting other people. So, so far so good. It is all about health.”
Beside that, the 32-year-old has enjoyed his time as a stay-at-home dad, and he thanked the medical workers for all they’ve done to combat the virus.
“(There’s) been a lot of talk about the hospital people, how important they are. I think they did a great job with us,” he said. “I know it’s not the ideal situation to be in the hospital at this time, but everyone has sacrificed for them and many people delivered or in case they’re sick. God bless them.”
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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