Tavares encouraged Cup will be awarded thanks to 'strict protocols'

John Tavares said he's encouraged that the Stanley Cup will be awarded this season, thanks to the safety measures that are part of the NHL's Return to Play Plan.

"I haven't seen any other industries institute, at least that I know in the sports world, the type of strict protocols that we have and are going to have in the NHL that has helped us and will help us be as safe as possible and give us a realistic opportunity to play," the Toronto Maple Leafs captain said Monday.

"We continue to listen to all the health experts and health organizations, which are kind of guiding us. That's the biggest thing. There's obviously unique cases and certain circumstances for any specific individual, but we're in a pretty good spot with the type of testing, safety protocols and measures that have been put into place."

Tavares was responding to the NHL's statement on Friday that 11 positive tests for COVID-19 had been recorded to date from the more than 200 players tested since Phase 2 of the Return to Play Plan started June 8. In Phase 2, players are voluntarily allowed to return to team facilities and train in groups of no more than six. Every player taking part is required to take a test, and anyone testing positive must immediately go into self-isolation.

Testing results are part of the daily conversations being held by the Return to Play Committee, which includes executives from the NHL and NHL Players' Association, and five players: Tavares, Ottawa Senators defenseman Ron Hainsey, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele and Philadelphia Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk. Tavares said the talks are very positive and tackle whatever roadblocks, health issues or safety recommendations come up with regard to finishing the season and declaring a champion.

"It's a very fluid situation," he said. "We constantly have to adjust and adapt like the rest of the world. From a business side, I think you see how a lot of the world is functioning now, and I think that's how we have to do it too. We have to continue to gather info the best we can and make the most informed decisions, the safest decisions, the smartest ones we can, and be cognizant of the conditions around us which might not be normal or ideal."

Tavares pointed to the resumption of soccer in the Premier League in England and the Bundesliga in Germany as examples of how professional team sports can return.

"We've seen overseas in some of the soccer leagues, especially in some of the countries that were hit pretty hard, how they've been able to adjust and adapt and adopt very similar protocols in the quest to play and complete their seasons," he said. "It leads me to be optimistic that we'll be able to complete our season."

Training camps will open on July 10 in Phase 3, provided medical and safety conditions allow and the NHL and the NHL Players' Association reach an agreement on resuming play. Play will resume in Phase 4 with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, with dates and the locations of two hub cities -- one for the 12 participating Western Conference teams, one for the 12 Eastern Conference teams -- to be announced.

The Maple Leafs are the No. 8 seed in the East and will face the No. 9 seed, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a best-of-5 Qualifier series. The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Tavares was one of the first Maple Leafs on the ice when Phase 2 began two weeks ago and said the process of returning has been embraced by those teammates who have taken part.

"I think it's amazing, even with a lot of the guidelines and being unable to do a lot of the things we normally accustomed to do around the facility or the locker room that obviously have been in the past part of everyday life or routine of an everyday hockey player," he said. "Even though you have to wear a mask around the facility and you're sanitizing a lot and you only have so much time there, it's amazing. Just to have that again, just to be back on the ice with them, just to have them pushing you in the gym, just to have that social interaction and camaraderie with your teammates, it's awesome all the guys how much they've said they've enjoyed this process so far even though it's been so restrictive at times from what we're used to.

"When something is taken away from you, such a big part of your life, something you love to do, not just because it's your career but because it's something you've loved to do since you've been a kid, it's amazing when you get a little bit of it back, just how uplifting that is, the excitement level and to hopefully get back to do what you love to do with your teammates. It's phenomenal."