Philadelphia Flyers: 5 biggest questions for the 2020-21 season

How will the Philadelphia Flyers handle the COVID-19 pandemic?

Unfortunately, it’s almost inevitable that NHL teams will have issues with the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly every NFL team had an outbreak of some form in 2020, forcing coaches and players to the sidelines away from the field. Major League Baseball had two major outbreaks with the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, but the league benefitted from playing outdoors and in the summer when the virus wasn’t as rampant.

Now we have to see what happens with the NHL at the height of the pandemic in the winter months with the guys playing indoors. There are probably younger guys who live with one another or players who have kids and spouses who leave the house.

Forward Joel Farabee talked in his press availability about the precautions players are taking by limiting who they see and how they get their meals. Like other leagues, NHL players aren’t going out to restaurants or leaving their hotels for the city nightlife.

But, as Farabee mentioned, it only takes one guy who is either exposed unknowingly or flat out breaks protocol, leading to a team shutting things down.

The Philadelphia Flyers have a very mix of veteran leaders like Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek and young players like Carter Hart and Ivan Provorov. Those guys, along with Alain Vigneault, have to keep on top of everyone and make sure things are as controlled as possible. This is especially true with Oskar Lindblom returning from cancer treatment last year.

The guys really have to be a true team to get through this season safely, and it’s a major question when you have so many players in a cold indoor setting in one of the most dangerous points in the virus.