Stanley Cup Qualifiers have players packing for different kind of trip

With all the things that Patrick Kane has to bring to Edmonton for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, he's actually lightening his load in one way: He's planning on leaving his Xbox at home.

"I feel like I was playing a little bit too much Xbox during [self-isolation], so I don't really want to bring it with me," the Chicago Blackhawks forward said. "I think there'll be enough to do, whether it's watching TV shows, hanging out in the lounge watching hockey games, watching basketball, things like that. I probably will stay away from [the Xbox]."

On Sunday, the 24 teams who will compete for the Stanley Cup under the NHL Return to Play Plan will arrive in either Toronto (the Eastern Conference hub city) or Edmonton (Western Conference) to prepare for the Qualifiers, which begin Aug. 1, after the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

The players will be required to stay in a safe zone, so they will be spending the majority of their time at the hotel and the arena, some of them for more than two months. The Qualifiers will be followed by the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the first two rounds also taking place in the two hub cities; each conference final and the Stanley Cup Final will be held in Edmonton.

So though not every player in the NHL is addicted to gaming, Xbox and PlayStation consoles aplenty will be tucked into suitcases for the trip from players' home cities to their new homes.

But it's not all that players are planning on bringing.

In addition to the usual items for road trips -- the toothbrushes and deodorant, the underwear and socks, the iPads and laptops -- there will be much, much more.

And more opportunities to forget something crucial. As Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said, "Make sure you've got all your chargers, your electronics, first and foremost."

Which is why that it's not only the on-ice portion of the Return to Play Plan that's making players sweat.

"I've had some anxiety about packing already, honestly," Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons said more than a week before he was set to head to Edmonton.

But for some, it's easy.

"My golf clubs," Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin said. "You'll find me putting in the hallway."

Florida Panthers forward Brian Boyle said he'd make sure to find room for a putter and three golf balls, a way to pass the time and keep his skills sharp.

Cards are popular, as are yoga mats, foam rollers, supplements, healthy snacks, board games and musical instruments.

That last one is nothing new for Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who brings a travel guitar on every road trip. Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci is contemplating packing a keyboard, though he said the size could make it tough.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand said he'd likely bring a guitar to Toronto, and teammate Jake DeBrusk said he might have to get one so he could spend some time learning the finer points of playing from Marchand and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon.

It was suggested that if goalie Tuukka Rask could somehow manage to take a drum kit to Canada, the Bruins could have some built-in entertainment for a stay that they hope will last through the Cup Final. Boston is one of eight teams who have already qualified for the playoffs.

"We [could] put a show on every night," Marchand said.

Books are a common item being packed, for those who are regular readers and those who are not.

As Sissons said, "Probably going to be spending a lot of time in the hotel room. I Amazon-ed a Kindle the other day so I have that, get a mental sweat in there."

Some heading to one of the hub cities were more specific about reading material. Predators coach John Hynes is bringing "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz," a look at former United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Hynes started it right before the pause and plans to dive back in.

"As I'm reading it, I thought this was [one of] those ones where you get a ton the first read," he said, "but the second read is something you could pick up even more from."

Other items making the trip range from the sentimental to the ridiculous.

Maple Leafs center John Tavares said he is bringing a picture of his wife and son. "You don't want to forget those faces," he said.

Toronto forward Kyle Clifford said, "I'm bringing a fan. That's about it. I like white noise at night."

As for Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jon Merrill? "An adult coloring book," he said. "I've been coloring so much during the pause. It's a skill I need to keep sharp."

Then there is Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher. For him, less is more.

"I pack as light as possible," he said. "I bring the bare essentials. I always have a deck of cards on me. I like to mess around with those, but other than that, I don't bring all that much entertainment in my room. I've got the TV and that's pretty much good for me."

Ultimately, that's the message from some players. They're there for the hockey. Though their suitcases may be stuffed with bits and pieces that will keep them engaged and occupied in the downtime, that's not their biggest concern.

Though there are a few things that they really, really don't want to forget.

"I think just my gaming station," Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine said when asked what he would make sure to pack. "That's pretty much it for me.

"And a toothbrush. That's it."