The NHL league office has yet to receive an official notice from the government, although it is expected before the NHL trade deadline of April 12. The new seven-day quarantine, which is expected to help open up the trading market, will include additional testing for players.
CBC first reported on the government’s decision. All seven of the NHL’s teams in Canada formally requested these measures from their respective provincial governments earlier in the season.
There has only been one trade this season with a player from a United States-based team who transferred to Canada: Pierre-Luc Dubois was sent from Columbus to Winnipeg in January. Although the Jets requested an exemption, it was only approved by Manitoba and not by the federal government. Dubois was forced into quarantine for 14 days before joining the team and suffered a lower body injury after his second comeback.
The NHL has had to work closely with the Canadian government during the pandemic as the border remains closed for non-essential travel – the driving force behind the creation of an All-Canadian division for the 2021 season.
