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The ice is back in at Rogers Place but how many players will be using it?
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
By baggedmilk
Jun 6, 2020, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 6, 2020, 17:01 EDT
With Phase 2 in the NHL’s return to play plan set to get started early this week, the Edmonton Oilers have put the ice back in at Rogers Place in preparation for the players that are around and available for voluntary skates.
Despite being able to open up facilities early this coming week, it’s still unclear how many of the Oilers are actually in town, when others will be making their way back, and how many are going to be using the facility for these voluntary workouts. According to Jim Matheson, the list could be small, at least to start:
The ice is in at Rogers Place. But there’s only a small number of Oilers or prospects in the area to skate with most back at their off-season homes. Alex Chiasson, Matt Benning, Kris Russell, Tyler Benson and goalie Stuart Skinner might be on the ice. The team isn’t expecting many players to return to Edmonton to skate because it’s voluntaryConnor McDavid is back in Ontario and reportedly has found a rink to skate in for several weeks. The Oiler Swedes, Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson, have been skating at home. The Euros would need two weeks quarantine when they return.
In a conversation with Reid Wilkins, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins admitted that while he has been skating, he’ll wait and see how things go with the rest of his teammates before making his way back to Edmonton:
“Basically, I’m back to my normal summer routine, or pretty close to it, as far as my training and skating. I’m going to wait and see what the rest of guys are feeling. The feeling was if you have things at your home base, skating and training I mean, it’s not a bad idea to stick to that for now.”
Obviously, there is still a long way to go before the NHL is able to get back on the ice (if at all), but I have to admit that I’m getting more excited about the possibility of watching hockey again as developments continue to happen. As always, we wait.
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