For the play in round/round robin logistics, I don’t think it would be as hard as you think. You can get 3 games per day in at an NHL arena, so that would be each team playing every other day and the only thing other rinks are getting used for is practice and possibly equipment storage. I would put the top 4 round robin game early followed by the two more meaningful play in games in the afternoon and evening slots at each hub. Any of those arenas mentioned today has the NHL caliber locker room space to accommodate 3 games per day with a good sanitation procedure in between games. You don’t have to play any games at practice facilities or secondary arenas. As for the ice quality, I would agree that it should not be much of an issue without fans in the arenas you can control the temp a lot better. You might even stagger games between the east and west where each site hosts games 2 out of every 3 days and the third is a dedicated ice maintenance date while the other site is playing so you don’t interrupt continuous TV coverage.

As for the tests and testing protocol, I think they’ll be able to work with the local governments to figure out how to arrange that wherever the hub cities end up at. Getting chosen as a hub is going to be a big economic boom for those cities/states/provinces that I’m sure they can work a deal out with the local governments where they can get the tests and processing in exchange for something like a nice grant to the local research university or something like that. I have few doubts that a Canadian province would not work out an arrangement to work out the quarantine issue with the NHL to allow them to host. I even read one article saying that Edmonton was willing to offer up a secure NHL only golf course for their use.

I’m really interested in how the 50 team personnel will shake out. Before you even get to players we’re looking at 5 coaches (head coach, 2 assistants, goalie, and video), 5 training staff (3 medical and 2 equipment). Where do you factor in your strength and skills coaches. I liked your point about having scouts in that 50, but I think if you give them all live raw footage from every broadcast (including camera angles) that they can do most of their jobs remote, and maybe just one to be there in person to give that perspective. How many of the front office staff will need to be included in that? Will they consider the GMs as part of that 50 or since they’ll probably want to be able to mingle with other GMs while there would they be taken out of the team allotment and lumped in with a separate NHL league allotment. That would mean they would be isolated from their coaches, but that’s probably not too hard over Zoom to discuss those things. If it were up to me, I would first max out the number of players and black aces allowed and then make sure you had the trainers and coaches to support that group, and then anyone else. Let the front office groups work remote, and if you have to have your assistants out live scouting the other games then so be it. With the Avs roster the way it is now, I would want all the young guys that I can get there just to experience this, practice, and be around the team.

I’d take STL right away. The Avs’ biggest advantage is skating, and that wears down after a few rounds.

Opportunity…
To me, this version of the playoffs seems to be another opportunity for the NHL to get back to players roots.
They all travelled to small rinks to play tournaments and stay at a hotel growing up.
Yes, the logistics suck and living in hotels isn’t the greatest for families etc.
The players will feel like their 10 again…they’ll all be healthy, it will only be about hockey.
No travel, no fans, no media, just us against them for the cup.