The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020
The decision to temporarily suspend play due to the COVID-19 pandemic is an appropriate course of action at this time. pic.twitter.com/ApudNZvurS
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) March 12, 2020
Update from the NHL regarding player activity and movement during season pause: pic.twitter.com/yeFjII7W49
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 16, 2020
NHL players and teams are sharing messages on social media for fans, wishing them health and safety during the coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/SZVkLZoSUs
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) March 16, 2020
A statement regarding the pause of the 2019.20 NHL season: pic.twitter.com/pDF32vbU5r
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 12, 2020
#CBJ statement on 2019-20 season.
🔗 https://t.co/T4cIS1XArL pic.twitter.com/IvZFApwedQ
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 12, 2020
NEWS: The #mnwild statement regarding today's @NHL announcement.
Press Release: https://t.co/qwyddo6krz pic.twitter.com/tpKZReytZq
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 12, 2020
Statement from the Washington Capitals: pic.twitter.com/vA4FMdijyl
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 12, 2020
#NHLBruins issue statements regarding the @NHL's decision to pause the 2019-20 season: https://t.co/QE3Szx0cFV
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 12, 2020
Our statement on the pausing of the 2019-20 NHL season. pic.twitter.com/TGamJJEPqg
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 12, 2020
Our statement regarding the pausing of the 2019-20 @nhl season: pic.twitter.com/bSQPsKShSb
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 12, 2020
Update from the Golden Knights#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/fvtb2N5ZTV
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 12, 2020
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in an interview on CNBC on Thursday that he expects to resume the season after a pause for coronavirus concerns and that no player has tested positive, to his knowledge.https://t.co/w4N17FCE9W
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) March 13, 2020
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the League has a task force of leaders that meets twice a day to discuss issues related to coronavirus.
"We want to do the right things and use common sense"
Our @cotsonika with the latest: https://t.co/TmirdXqEf5
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) March 13, 2020
Stay Healthy🙏🏿🙌🏿💪🏿❤️ pic.twitter.com/oL528tfuJN
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) March 13, 2020
Vladimir Tarasenko has a message for all the Blues fans out there. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/HM8HnpPOmR
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 13, 2020
A message from Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Zadina. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/eGKEkcOjPL
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 16, 2020
This is bigger than hockey. ❤️
A message from @OEL23: pic.twitter.com/Y5DOrslHqf
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 16, 2020
Together we are Team Toronto
Official Statement: https://t.co/pT25L4pNCO pic.twitter.com/1m1fiJBTR3
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 15, 2020
“So many of our staff provide us love and support every day they come to work, so we see this as an opportunity to reciprocate those same virtues in this time of uncertainty” - Brendan Shanahan on #Leafs being part of Team Toronto pic.twitter.com/J3BfCFQZu1
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) March 15, 2020
#Leafs part of Team Toronto to fund program for staff affected by pausing of sports leagues and stoppage of other activities they would normally be paid for pic.twitter.com/hOFVr3KiQY
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) March 15, 2020
No question #NHL's update today means hockey won't be played for a while. But history suggests that even a late May or early June resumption of play leaves enough runway to award the #StanleyCup this season:https://t.co/W4G8Z2GHBy pic.twitter.com/92Q2CC2r06
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 16, 2020
New directives, new questions, new reality, my Monday column on the ever-changing landscape the NHL is dealing with:https://t.co/3QhM1viUxW
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 16, 2020
Wash your hands!
- a message from the Captain 💛 pic.twitter.com/dD2dtiezs7
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 17, 2020
A message from Jonathan Bernier. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/LLtr78MStD
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 17, 2020
"We are a resilient group and we are going to get through this." 💪 pic.twitter.com/ihesIe2iIx
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 16, 2020
Hey everyone, just a quick message from Lenny and I. Please stay safe out there pic.twitter.com/SsjNsldPIS
— Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97) March 17, 2020
"We have to do our part to take care of one another"@TOPublicHealth encourages washing your hands for 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of germs. pic.twitter.com/rQlOVSKDh6
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 18, 2020
[UPDATED] List of Teams Who are Paying and NOT Paying arena staff:
The Naughty List
- Boston Bruins – Jeremy Jacobs – Brad Marchand shared a GoFundMe to pay TD Garden employees which many Bruins players have contributed to.
- Columbus Blue Jackets – John P. McConnell
- Minnesota Wild – Craig Leipold
- Ottawa Senators – Eugene Melnyk
- St. Louis Blues – Tom Stillman (net worth unknown)
- Vegas Golden Knights – Bill Foley (approx. $500 million)
The Medium List
- Carolina Hurricanes – Tom Dundon – On March 14, Dundon said “We’ll do something,” and the plan would be announced on March 16.
- New York Rangers – James L. Dolan – On March 13, they said they have a short-term plan to pay employees, but are still working on long-term.
- Vancouver Canucks – Francesco Aquilini – On March 14, Aquilini announced “Canucks Sports & Entertainment has initiated a program, based on individual need, that will help any part-time employee who requires support to avoid financial hardship during this unexpected employment disruption.”
The Nice List
- Anaheim Ducks – Henry Samueli
- Arizona Coyotes – Alex Meruelo – On March 14, Meruelo said they are working on “working on a solution to assist the team members” and that “details will be released in the next few days.” On March 16, they announced they would provide full pay for all games scheduled.
- Buffalo Sabres – Terrence Pegula – Employees will be paid by a combination of players, staff, the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, and Pegula Sports and Entertainment
- Calgary Flames – N. Murray Edwards – On Friday, the Flames announced they would not be paying employees for events cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. On Sunday, CEO and President of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment announced to employees that their stance had changed. “Subsequent to the release of our previous communication, we have obtained a number of additional pieces of information including communicating directly with many part-time employees. This has prompted us to reach out to you today and advise that we will now be adopting an income bridge support program for qualifying employees.”
- Chicago Blackhawks – Rocky Wirtz
- Colorado Avalanche – Ann Walton Kroenke
- Dallas Stars – Tom Gaglardi
- Detroit Red Wings – Chris Ilitch
- Edmonton Oilers – Daryl Katz
- Florida Panthers – Vincent Viola – Employees will be paid by Sergei Bobrovsky and other players; the team will cover any additional amount needed.
- Los Angeles Kings – Philip Anschutz
- Montreal Canadiens – Geoff Molson – The organization will increase benefits for employees eligible who are eligible for employment insurance, and will pay employees who are not eligible for employment insurance 75% of what they would have been paid for the remaining regular-season Canadiens and Laval Rockets games.
- Nashville Predators – Ownership group, largest stakeholder and chairman: Herb Fritch (approx. $600 million)
- New Jersey Devils – Joshua Harris
- New York Islanders – Scott D. Malkin (approx. $200 million) – The Brooklyn Nets are paying for all canceled events at Barclays Center.
- Philadelphia Flyers – Brian L. Roberts
- Pittsburgh Penguins – Ronald Burkle – Employees will be paid by players and two charitable Penguins foundations.
- San Jose Sharks – Hasso Plattner
- Tampa Bay Lightning – Jeff Vinik (approx. $600 million)
- Toronto Maple Leafs – Larry Tanenbaum – On March 12, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced they were working on a plan. March 15, MLSE announced a partnership between the Leafs, Jays, Raptors, TFC and Argonauts, “to create a special assistance fund to further assist arena/stadium and support staff.”
- Washington Capitals – Ted Leonsis
- Winnipeg Jets – Mark Chipman (approx. $500 million) and David Thomson (approx. $38 *billion*) – Confirmed March 12 they would not be paying employees for events cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. March 15 they reversed course and decided to pay for the four remaining Jets home games that were scheduled in March.