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The Canucks could see an estimated 50 percent of
home seats filled at Rogers Arena, which normally accommodates
18,910 fans. The Canadiens plan to open at 33 percent of the
club's 21,302 capacity at the Bell Centre.
In addition to crowd projections, the league's memo reportedly
described the anticipated vaccine guidelines for all the
franchises. Ten teams plan to require fans to show proof of
vaccination only: the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Canadiens,
New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Seattle
Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.
Fans attending eight other teams' home arenas will be able to
attend games with either proof of vaccination or evidence of a
negative COVID-19 test: the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins,
Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings,
Nashville Predators, New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues.
As of this week's policies, 14 other teams will not require fans
to show copies of vaccination or negative COVID tests --
although some or all of those teams could alter plans before the
start of the season. Those teams are the Arizona Coyotes,
Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets,
Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota
Wild, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh
Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights and
Washington Capitals.
In addition, 11 of the NHL's 32 franchises will not mandate that
fans wear masks for entrance -- with the Ducks only requiring
unvaccinated fans to sport masks.
The intention to clear full crowds for five of the seven
Canadian teams was met with criticism from some in the medical
community. In addition to questioning if a proof-of-vaccination
card was legitimate enough for fans to gain entry, an infectious
disease expert in Edmonton believes the move to big crowds was a
recipe for serious trouble.
"On one hand, we have our health-care system in complete crisis
and about to crumble," Dr. Noel Gibney told Global News in
Alberta. "But at the same time, life is pretending to go on as
normal."
Another doctor, emergency-room physician Shazma Mithani in
Edmonton, termed packed arenas a "terrible idea." "One look at
the state of our health-care system -- should we really be
having thousands and thousands of people in an indoor stadium
yelling and drinking beer when our health-care system is at the
brink of collapse?" Mithani said to the Global News.
"When we're asking for help from the federal government, from
the Canadian military, from other provinces in order to help our
crumbling health-care system because of how bad COVID has
gotten?"
Regarding players, last week NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly
told several media outlets that the league projects 98 percent
of its players will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by
opening night of the 2021-22 season on Oct. 12. Unlike players,
NHL coaches are required to receive a vaccine.
--Field Level Media
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