Connor McDavid knows what it looks like to some.

Millionaire hockey players travelling province to province for games when everyone else is asked to refrain from doing anything remotely similar as the COVID-19 pandemicB次元官网网址檚 second wave wreaks personal and financial havoc from coast to coast to coast.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unprecedented times,B次元官网网址� McDavid said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not blind to understand that weB次元官网网址檙e very lucky to be able to come into work to play the game that we love.B次元官网网址�

But the captain of the Edmonton Oilers B次元官网网址� the sportB次元官网网址檚 superstar of superstars B次元官网网址� also wants critics to understand that among the reasons the NHL is giving it a shot is to try and add some normalcy to what is looking like an increasingly dark winter of 2021.

B次元官网网址淧eople are stuck at home and they need something to do,B次元官网网址� McDavid said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to play every other day for the next four or five months.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e putting our bodies on the line not only for each other, but the fans.B次元官网网址�

The NHLB次元官网网址檚 shortened 56-game season, which includes a one-time-only North Division consisting of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 seven teams to avoid crossing the border B次元官网网址� fans also wonB次元官网网址檛 be allowed into arenas as things stand B次元官网网址� is set to begin Wednesday. Players have been tested every day during training camp, and that will continue for at least the first four weeks of the schedule.

And when teams head out on the road, theyB次元官网网址檒l be restricted to the hotel and arena. No restaurants or mixing with the general population allowed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 to keep us safe,B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 to keep the people in the community safe.B次元官网网址�

By contrast, a person could fly from Toronto to Edmonton or Winnipeg to Ottawa tomorrow and not face any restrictions upon arrival.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not apples to apples,B次元官网网址� Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting tested every single day.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 aware that itB次元官网网址檚 not easy for anybody, but it is what it is.B次元官网网址�

Like a number of league executives, Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was on some of the conference calls as the NHL, the playersB次元官网网址� association and various levels of government hashed out public health protocols acceptable to all parties.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not something thatB次元官网网址檚 taken lightly,B次元官网网址� he said of playing in a pandemic. B次元官网网址淗aving sports is about more than the wins and the losses. I think itB次元官网网址檚 about a mental psyche of a community, a mental psyche of a society.

B次元官网网址淚 think everyoneB次元官网网址檚 looking for something to make them feel good.B次元官网网址�

But is it fair that professional athletes get to play and earn a living as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise, the country creeps towards 17,000 deaths, businesses fail and amateur sports B次元官网网址� from minor hockey to gymnastics B次元官网网址� remain on ice?

B次元官网网址淚 understand that there are people against it,B次元官网网址� Toronto Maple Leafs centre Jason Spezza said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all very cognizant of the fact that weB次元官网网址檙e lucky weB次元官网网址檙e allowed to keep working.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not lost on us whatB次元官网网址檚 going on outside our four walls,B次元官网网址� Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving added of the optics. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e taken every precaution we possibly can to do this as safely and responsibly in the time that weB次元官网网址檙e in. I understand there will be different views, and I respect those.

B次元官网网址淏ut I think as a league weB次元官网网址檝e taken every possible consideration.B次元官网网址�

The NHL pulled off the restart to its pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season in August and September thanks to tightly controlled bubbles that resulted in zero positive tests in Toronto and Edmonton. While the upcoming campaign will have plenty of measures in place, itB次元官网网址檚 not the same level of protection.

U.S.-based teams have also being aligned in newly formed divisions, and like the franchises north of the border, will only play against those clubs to cut down on travel and the chance of infection.

But there have already been cracks.

The Dallas Stars announced Friday six players and two staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 during camp, while the Columbus Blue Jackets kept some of their roster off the ice out of B次元官网网址渁n abundance of caution.B次元官网网址� Then on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins cancelled practice for the same reason.

No members of Canadian teams have so far tested positive during camp.

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Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said the rules and protocols actually go beyond the players to include their own personal bubbles, which in turn should create team bubbles that, while not as secure as the summer, itB次元官网网址檚 hoped will further limit risk of exposure.

B次元官网网址淭he protocols that are in place are extremely restricted to not only them, but their families, and where theyB次元官网网址檙e permitted to go and what theyB次元官网网址檙e permitted to do,B次元官网网址� Dubas said. B次元官网网址淗opefully as we get near the end of everything, weB次元官网网址檒l be able to have fans back in our building and enjoy things in the spring and summer as normal as possible. But first and foremost is the health and safety of everybody.B次元官网网址�

Montreal winger Brendan Gallagher said apart from raising spirits, playing can help to boost a struggling economy.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so many people who rely on these games,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a game for us, but for a lot of people itB次元官网网址檚 a business. When you look at these provinces that are bleeding for money right now, they need these games.

B次元官网网址淲e are in the entertainment business, but itB次元官网网址檚 a business, and money needs to be made. Hopefully we can get through this thing and everyone can stay safe, but we have a job to do and weB次元官网网址檝e been asked to do it. WeB次元官网网址檙e happy to oblige. B次元官网网址�

And while a section of society will no doubt be opposed, the race for the Stanley Cup is now right around the corner.

B次元官网网址淪ome people may not love the idea that weB次元官网网址檙e able to travel and play,B次元官网网址� McDavid said. B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檙e lucky to be able to come into work and do it for the fans sitting at home.B次元官网网址�

-With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith in Vancouver.

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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