What adjustments will Bruce Cassidy, Bruins players have to make in an empty NHL arena?

Let’s be frank: there are far more pressing issues at hand when it comes to the various roadblocks that could completely derail the NHL’s “Return To Play” plan in the coming months. 

As players slowly start their migration back to their club cities and get back on the ice for the first time in months, the race is on for the NHL, NHLPA and multiple other parties to come to terms on appropriate (and safe) measures when it comes to determining health protocols, neutral-site venues, a starting date for playoff bouts and much more. 

One facet of the NHL’s return that is already likely set in stone is the environment that players should expect when games finally commence — as once-packed barns will likely be muted due to the continuing grip of COVID-19. 

“It's very bizarre to think about — playing a meaningful game with no fans in there,” Charlie Coyle said. “It's almost like a practice atmosphere. Never played an NHL game where there was no one there. It'll be a new experience.”

By the time the puck is dropped in the NHL’s two designated venues later this summer, pro hockey will be far from the only sports league returning to action in front of empty arenas. 

Such measures are already underway in Europe, whether it be in Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga, the Premier League and many others. For broadcasts, both artificial crowd noise and live sound from these silent venues have been utilized — while Spain has incorporated technology to add “virtual fans” to these empty seats during these TV feeds. 

It remains to be seen what the NHL and its broadcast partners have up their sleeves when it comes to their plan of enhancing the quality and immersiveness of this revamped Stanley Cup Playoff format. 

But amid all of the artificial noise and flashy graphics set to be transmitted on our screens this summer, such augmented reality isn’t going to translate into much for the actual players on the ice — who will need to search elsewhere for the spark often supplied by 18,000 raucous fans, night after night. 


“Playing without fans is definitely gonna be something new for everybody,” David Pastrnak said. “Especially the guys who haven't played a hockey game for 20 years without fans like Zdeno (Chara), right?  It's gonna be different. I'm watching soccer games now. I mean, it's really, really weird, when you can hear every single player talking on the field. To be honest, I don't even know what to expect. I'm expecting the unexpected.”

For all 24 clubs in line to take part in this new playoff format, a chance to see this season through and hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup obviously stands as plenty of motivation in and of itself — especially for a Bruins team looking to avenge last summer’s crushing conclusion. 

Still, it’s only natural for these athletes to draw some much-needed energy from the stands — whether it be in the minutes leading up to puck drop, or in the midst of a final push with a goalie pulled. 

“It would be like a practice, really, that's kind of the way it would feel,” Brad Marchand said of the atmosphere. “One of the most exciting things about the game is having the fans there, the support, the energy and the momentum swings that they can create. ... It would be a very different feel.””

For Bruce Cassidy, dropping from a steady stream of 120 decibels to the usual cacophony of noise found at your local rink presents a set of additional issues. 

While viewers could be in line for some insightful commentary — and some strong “PG-13" language — if broadcasts opt to roll games with just the live sound in a largely empty arena, the absence of the usual wall of sound could cause the NHL to make a few changes when it comes to preventing any unwanted sleuthing from the opposition. 

"There's still the dividers in the rink. I still assume they'll have those between the benches,” Cassidy said in an interview on NBC Sports Boston. “My guess is the linesman will be instructed to get over during the timeouts, where they're supposed to be anyway, but maybe everybody will get over there to sort of deflect some of that (listening in). Because I think, honestly, the players will have to skate over to sort of legitimately try to hear what's going on and sneak in — not right into your bench, but you know what I mean, to be within earshot.

“So I think they'll try to police that and make sure that players go to their separate benches. I think you can control some of that, to be honest with you. And obviously, a lot of times when you're discussing things, because there's music and a lot going on you're yelling a little bit to get the players to hear — you won't have to do that if they control some of the parameters where we can speak in a normal tone of voice. Now, will there be a little bit of people trying to pay attention? Yeah, there's always gamesmanship, but I think we can get past that.”

Still, Cassidy doesn’t believe that teams will have to cook up audibles and other cues in an effort to shut down inquiring ears once games get underway. 

“They'll be no ‘Omaha’,” Cassidy added. “There could be, if it’s situational — power play, breakout — maybe there's something you can yell out to that effect. But I think for the most part, hockey's fluid. It's hard to just go all of a sudden with these set plays. Would it happen periodically? Yes. 

“Typically, assistant coaches are also yelling at the players about what's coming up the ice, what system ... There's some of that that goes on anyway, you'll just be able to hear more of it, whoever is in the building. Because that won't change. I think we're naturally programmed to yell out things we see that are happening on the fly."

Of course, even if these games carry on without much in terms of interruptions, there stands a very viable scenario in which the Stanley Cup is awarded to a revelrous club — without much fanfare in the background. 

Unorthodox? Certainly. Odd. Of course. 

But if Boston finds itself in such a scenario this fall — the last club standing in what will be a frantic few months — methinks there won’t be many objectors donning black and gold sweaters. 

“That would be weird, because our fans are a big, big part of the sport, right? Without fans, it wouldn't be the way it is now,” David Krejci said. “But if that's what we're gonna have to do, I guess that's what we're gonna have to do. I'm sure people would watch it on TV. But yeah, it would be a little bit different. You always think about winning the Cup, lifting it up with the crowd there — the great surroundings and stuff and then have a parade back in the city. But I understand, I guess it's not possible right now. It is what it is, right? There's more important things than that."