Sixteen months after choosing Canada as the safest place to complete its season, the NHL now faces a series of hurdles north of the border that complicate its bid to power through the pandemic all over again.

The NFL and NBA can swiftly move to adopt shorter isolation periods for those who test positive for the coronavirus in accordance with new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the two leagues also can consider not testing asymptomatic, vaccinated players.

The NHL with seven teams north of the border must balance stricter COVID-19 regulations set by Canadian federal and provincial authorities.

B次元官网网址淲e have always had the issue of differing rules in different jurisdictions, so itB次元官网网址檚 not a new challenge,B次元官网网址� Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday, hours before play resumed after an extended holiday break. B次元官网网址�(We are) navigating choppy waters the best we can.B次元官网网址�

The CDC recommendation to trim quarantine time from 10 to five days prompted an NHL review of its virus protocols. But there is little evidence Canada is ready to move like the U.S. toward looser rules as provinces clamp down on crowd sizes and impose additional restrictions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not in the mind of the state or the population and especially not in the mind of the health field workers,B次元官网网址� said University of Ottawa professor Gilles LeVasseur, who specializes in U.S.-Canada relations. B次元官网网址淩ight now itB次元官网网址檚 more, B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 protect, letB次元官网网址檚 secure and letB次元官网网址檚 close in and letB次元官网网址檚 do another confinement.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� There is not that mentality of saying that itB次元官网网址檚 part of us, itB次元官网网址檚 part of who we are and letB次元官网网址檚 live with it.B次元官网网址�

That path in the U.S., even among other sports leagues, is causing some frustration among hockey players who would like to see the NHL relax some protocols, most notably reducing mandated absences from 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms.

B次元官网网址淚t seems like itB次元官网网址檚 always Canada thatB次元官网网址檚 the reason that a lot of things donB次元官网网址檛 happen, so I donB次元官网网址檛 know if weB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to do that,B次元官网网址� Tampa Bay Lightning forward and NHL Players Association representative Alex Killorn said. B次元官网网址淏ut it seems reasonable that we would do that and implement it as soon as possible.B次元官网网址�

Teammate Steven Stamkos on Monday said it was a fine line, while acknowledging discussion about testing less is happening around NHL locker rooms. Veteran executive Lou Lamoriello said Sunday the league and union are doing the best they can without being able to control Canadian federal and provincial rules.

B次元官网网址淯nless we werenB次元官网网址檛 playing in Canada and we didnB次元官网网址檛 have teams in Canada, you could consider (not testing asymptomatic vaccinated players), and certainly it would be (considered),B次元官网网址� the New York Islanders general manager said. B次元官网网址淏ut with the guidelines and rules of Canada, itB次元官网网址檚 impossible to have happen. We wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to have games without the testing that is required to play in Canada.B次元官网网址�

The NHL postponed the Detroit Red WingsB次元官网网址� game at the Islanders scheduled for Wednesday, the 71st to be rescheduled for virus-related reasons this season. More could be coming, especially in Canada early in 2022 to allow for fans in arenas in Montreal and Winnipeg, which is currently not possible because of provincial restrictions in Quebec and Manitoba.

The American Hockey League, which has 26 teams in the U.S. and five in Canada, is wrestling with the same issues. While the NHL has postponed 70 games, the AHL is at 61 and is trying to play as many as possible without widespread disruption.

That comes with the acknowledgment that itB次元官网网址檚 more difficult for the teams in Canada to avoid lengthy absences.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e always subject to what the Canadian governmentB次元官网网址檚 going to do, and you respect that and our Canadian teams know that,B次元官网网址� AHL president and CEO Scott Howson told The AP on Tuesday. B次元官网网址淥ur protocols are always subject to whatever the Canadian governmentB次元官网网址檚 saying, so if we do something thatB次元官网网址檚 less restrictive, but the Canadian government is obviously saying, B次元官网网址榃ell, you have to do this,B次元官网网址� then thatB次元官网网址檚 what the Canadian teams have to do.B次元官网网址�

One option is having different testing and isolation requirements for the U.S. and Canada.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 arguments on both sides,B次元官网网址� Howson said. B次元官网网址淵ou want the level playing field, but for us, the 26 teams that could have a less restrictive system, why should they be punished?B次元官网网址�

The NHL is testing players, coaches and staff daily through Jan. 7 as part of enhanced virus protocols, which include a return to mask-wearing and restrictions for road teams. Taxi squads are back until the All-Star break to try to keep the season going.

As for Canada following the U.S. strategy of living with the virus, LeVasseur does not expect that shift for at least two more weeks while health officials monitor case and hospitalization numbers.

B次元官网网址淚f nothing turns out to be a catastrophe in the hospitals, then youB次元官网网址檒l have that second mentality,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut until we get to Jan. 15, nothing is going to be opening to that mentality. ItB次元官网网址檒l be more closed in, secure, confinement and restrictions. That is the pattern that weB次元官网网址檙e going to see.B次元官网网址�

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Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press

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