We’ve been waiting for months to see what life within the NHL bubble is going to be like. Now we are getting an idea.
The National Hockey League has released its return-to-play protocol for Phase 3 and Phase 4. That’s training camp and the ensuing restart of the season on Aug. 1.
It includes everything from testing procedures, to swimming pool protocol, to instructions on how to press elevator buttons.
In this week’s “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast, we don’t get quite that deep. But Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer and I analyze the smartest way to stack the Penguins 31-man roster. Especially from a goalie standpoint.
How many of those valuable roster spots do you give to emergency goalies who may never play? Keep in mind, though, those guys will become invaluable if one goalie gets hurt and another one gets a positive covid-19 test.
We also talk about how experimental the Penguins can be at forward with their depth. Namely, the potential of including hot prospect Sam Poulin. Since the team already has two experienced defensemen in Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola on reserve, maybe they feel they can roll the dice on a few home run prospects up front.
Metzer and I also lament the quiet passing of July 1 on the NHL calendar. That’s normally a day reserved for hockey hysteria to kickoff free agency. Signings come fast and furious. Trades occur like wildfire. But no such luck this year.
And this could’ve been a huge week for Penguins news under normal circumstances, given Matt Murray’s uncertain status. Would he have been traded? Or have signed a mega-money extension?
We’ll never know now. So Metzer and I speculate about his future moving forward.
We also set over-under dates for how long we think this hockey reboot will last. I’d love to say we’ll see it through until a Stanley Cup champion is crowned. But I’m dubious. I doubt the league lasts through the round of 16.
Let’s see if Metz is more optimistic.
