What kind of environment awaits Bruins up in Toronto's 'Secure Zone'?

The NHL’s Board of Governors and NHLPA have still not ratified the extensive “Return To Play” protocols and CBA extension that will charter a course for pro hockey through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond — but based on recent reports, it appears as though such an agreement between both parties is more of a matter of when, not if. 

While we will likely not get our hands on the full memorandum of understanding until the agreement is officially approved, we’ve already received plenty of details of what to expect in the coming years — whether it be opt-out clauses and an increased playoff pool this season or a flat cap and additional financial concessions in the years ahead.

But given that the final steps of these negotiations have primarily centered around ironing out the finer details of this new CBA, more and more nuggets of information are starting to emerge about Phase 4 of the NHL’s Return to Play plan — with TSN’s Frank Seravalli painting a pretty vivid picture about what playoff clubs like the Bruins should expect when they make the move up to Canada at the end of the month. 

While we already have a pretty good idea of the locations and “Bubble” venues  (Toronto / Canadian National Exhibition grounds for the Eastern Conference + Edmonton / ICE District for the Western Conference) for Phase 4, Seravalli shed light on some of the smaller details beyond what is expected when players take to the ice at both Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Place. 

Here are a few of the highlights of what players can expect in the "Bubble" — or, as the NHL is now calling it: "Phase 4 Secure Zones." Hardcore.



Who's going? According to Seravalli's report, teams will be allowed to bring a maximum of 52 individuals inside the "Secure Zone" — a group that includes players, coaches, staff, ownership and other executives. The maximum number of players allowed will be 31 — which teams asked to submit said list of 31 players by July 13, which is the date that Phase 3 (full training camp) is now slated to begin. While there can be some variance in terms of who makes up this group of 52, teams will be required to include at least one (1): security representative, Phase 4 compliance officer and team content creator / social media member.

Widespread testing protocols: Once these 52-person traveling parties are settled into the Secure Zones, each individual will be subject to a daily nasal-swab test for COVID-19, while temperature checks and symptom screenings will also be regularly conducted. But these strict testing regimens are not just prescribed for all personnel involved with the NHL and these 24 total teams. Arena workers, ice crew, security staff, hotel bartenders, food service staff, arena food and beverage staff, housekeeping services, hotel kitchen staff, and transportation staff will also be tested daily.

Pulling the plug? While the gears continue to turn toward a resumption of play, the NHL and NHLPA will have the option to postpone, delay or outright cancel these games due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within these Secure Zones. Even if there is not set threshold or amount of cases that could cause such action be taken, the NHL noted earlier this summer that a few positive tests would not necessarily lead to the tournament being scrapped.

No one in/No one out: Once players are in these Secure Zones,  things will be locked down — with non-authorized personnel not allowed to enter/exit these extensive venues. Players will lodge in single-occupancy rooms, with teams assigned their own designated floors. Players will not be able to enter each other's rooms, although hotel bars and restaurants will be open — granted, with social distancing measures still in effect. Contactless room service and delivery from local restaurants will be available. Players will also have access to the hotel pool and fitness center, while each team will also be handed its own meeting area.

Given that Alberta's pitch for Edmonton also advocated for the development of an "Olympic Village" setting, additional excursions outside of the Secure Zones will also be on the docket — with the most obvious outlet being tee times at a nearby golf course.

Consequences: The NHL will have zero tolerance when it comes to a player potentially leaving the Secure Zone — with the NHL stressing that any team in violation of these safety protocols will be subject to “significant penalties, potentially including fines and/or loss of draft picks.”

Opt-out clauses: As noted in our weekend notebook, players will be able to opt out of the NHL's Return to Play plan without penalty. However, players have until three days after this MoU is ratified to inform their team that they will not participate.

Masks: Inside the Secure Zone, masks will still be required for any individual leaving their hotel room. They can be removed for on-ice work, exercise, eating and drinking. Coaches and officials will not be required to wear masks once games get underway.

Gaining entry: While players entering these Secure Zones, especially from the U.S., will not be subject to quarantine, each individual in a team's traveling party will  be tested three times, 48 hours apart, in the seven days prior to their charter flight to Canada.

Returning to Secure Zone: Players will be allowed to return to the Secure Zone if they were granted authorization to leave due to a medical issue or family-related circumstance (birth of a child, death of a family member, etc.). However, these players will then be asked to quarantine upon return — pending four negative tests over a four-day period.

Family access: Families will be allowed to join players in the Secure Zone during the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final — which will be held in Edmonton. As such, players advancing to the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be away from their families for around five weeks once making the move up to Canada. While players are gone, their NHL club will provide assistance to their families back home by way of grocery delivery and other errands.

Positive test protocol: Any player that tests positive within the Secure Zone will be immediately isolated. A second test will then be administered — if it returns a negative result, the player will still remain isolated and be tested again in 24 hours. Another negative test will allow said player to leave isolation.

Cleaning: In between periods of games, arena staff will disinfect the entire bench area, while vertical dashers will separate each player's designated water bottle. Other regular locations, whether it be in the hotel or in locker rooms at the arena, will also be disinfected daily.

Speaking last week, Bruce Cassidy noted that, even without full details, it was inevitable that concessions and sacrifices will need to be made for players upon entering these Secure Zones. However, given what's at stake for the hundreds of players making the trek up to Canada, Boston's bench boss believes it won't take much for his club to buy in on these new parameters.

"Well, the guys that are gamers — the Xbox guys — they're going to be fine, by the sounds of it," Cassidy said of players adjusting to the "bubble" environment. "But at the end of the day, no, we're not sure what the parameters will be yet. Donnie (Sweeney) will have all that information for us. I think we'll have an appropriate amount of time during camp to start focusing on — Okay, what can we do? What can we plan? I'm sure the league has thought of this because there's 12 teams in the same boat, correct? So that they're gonna have to find stuff so the players remain as safe as possible. So I'm sure they'll have some ideas as well — I imagine the NBA is going through it, there's probably some discussions between the two leagues and then we'll go from there.

"But at the end of the day, like our conversations with the players, you're gonna have to take some level of ownership of this. Everyone's in it together. We're all  kind of the same predicament — and that is, 'Hey, we're a little more confined than what we want to be, yet we're being allowed to go and pursue our ultimate goal.' So we’ve got to look at it that way. We got to be grateful for the opportunity to play for the Cup. Might infringe on a little bit of what you'd like to do away from the rink, but that's the sacrifices you make. There's always sacrifices in playoff hockey and these ones are going to be a little bit different maybe than they are in years past. So that's going to be our message. We got to make the appropriate sacrifice to get our name on the Cup and hopefully guys are accepting."