Any player can decide if he wants to return for playoff series!

In just over two weeks from now, Phase 3 of the NHL’s return to play four-phase plan will officially begin, as the opening of training camps for the 24 teams invited in playoff tournament will be underway. 

We’re getting closer to the NHL return. 

However, while most NHL players are excited to jump back on the ice and fight hard to win the Stanley Cup, it seems like others are too worried to do so, and might decide not to return to action or join their teams for the playoff stretch. 

As reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the league will allow players to choose if they want to stay home if they are uncomfortable with returning to action under the current circumstances and spending a few weeks locked in a bubble in order to play in the tournament and make sure the pandemic does not reach them. 

Friedman added that a general manager from the Western Conference told him that he has been informed by one of his players, who will remain anonymous for now, that he would not join the team for the playoffs and that he will stay at home, by personal choice.

It will be very interesting to see in the coming weeks who will be the players who decide not to show up at their respective training camps when many players are currently making arrangements to return home and report to their team. 

Will your team be without a star player because he choose to stay home?