Tampa Bay Lightning reportedly forced to close practice facility due to COVID-19

While the NHL continues to push ahead in its goal of resuming the 2019-20 season later this summer, the league received the most sobering development of its ongoing uphill climb against COVID-19 on Friday. 

According to Bob McKenzie, the Tampa Bay Lightning have had to close down their training facilities during Phase 2 of the NHL’s “Return To Play” plan after three players and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. 

This is not the first case of COVID-19 sprouting back up in the NHL ranks since Phase 2 was ushered in, as the Bruins reported last week that a player tested positive (and then negative twice) for the virus and was subsequently not admitted to the team facilities. 

But in Florida — a state that recorded a new single-day record of 3,822 cases of COVID-19 on Friday — things are deteriorating quickly as far as athletics go. Earlier on Friday, the Phillies announced that they had closed their spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida due to an outbreak, while an assistant coach on the Buccaneers also tested positive on Thursday. 

Along with the Bruins and Lightning, three other NHL clubs have had players and staff test positive for the virus — with Ottawa, Colorado and Pittsburgh all reporting cases during the extended self-isolation phase from March to May. 

BSJ Analysis:



Given that Phase 2 of the NHL's Return To Play plan is strictly voluntary when it comes to player participation, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that tests are going to sprout up, especially in these hotspot areas where these athletes are still regularly exposed to the general population. While there are still details that need to be sorted out when it comes safety protocols in regards to Phase 3 (full training camp) and Phase 4 (resumption of games), the assumption is that the players are going to be much more limited in terms of interacting with non NHL personnel once the season gets closer and closer to a start date.

Even though McKenzie was quick to note that the expectations are for the Lightning's facility to re-open once no more positive tests are determined, there are still plenty of ramifications from this development — both for the Lightning and sports as a whole. Even though Phase 2 is primarily designed to help players shake off the rust from months off and prep themselves for a rapid ramp-up for training camp, it's hard to argue against the fact that the Lightning are now at a disadvantage — given that every other NHL team (for now) will be allowed to continue to work back on the ice.

As for the optics of what's going down in Florida, you wonder what exactly the NBA, MLS and WNBA are thinking about the number of cases spiking down in The Sunshine State. While the NHL and other leagues are committed to seeing this season through, Friday's news highlights the daunting undertaking that is still far from being realized when it comes to resuming games in the midst of a pandemic.