New York’s high profile athletes express concerns over returning to play
Artemi Panarin (left) and Maxi Moralez (right) doubt the effectiveness of the NHL and MLS’s return to play outlook.
As the country’s major sports outline their plans to resume play, numerous players have already expressed their doubts. In particular, two of New York’s high profile athletes have spoken publicly about their concerns over safety and financial issues regarding their leagues’ return to play plan.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, and New York City FC midfielder Maxi Moralez, have criticized plans by the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer to resume training and games.
Panarin announced via social media that he doesn’t believe players should return to play if the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) do not reach an agreement to address the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the sport. The Ranger star’s concern over the league’s escrow system (the system allowing the league’s owners to retain a percentage of the players’ salaries) stems from the league’s extended pause and the absence of fans once the league restarts. The lack of NHL play will certainly curtail the league’s cap size and adversely affect additional money being collected by league owners. Panarin’s message publicly voices the league-wide uncertainty surrounding escrow and the NHL’s financial situation as a whole.
The Rangers signed Panarin to a seven-year, $81.5 million deal last offseason and he is currently the league’s most high profile player raising concerns over returning to training camp with no escrow agreement. Full-team training camps are scheduled to begin July 10 as a part of Phase 3 of the NHL’s return to play plan.
Although the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire in September 2022, the pause already has league officials and the NHLPA discussing an extension. Because revenue has drastically diminished and will continue to do so even when games resume, the league and its players want to find a solution as quickly as possible.
NHL insiders believe that within the next week, the players will hold a league-wide vote on numerous long-term possibilities. Along with the CBA, the players will have a say on player safety protocol, the escrow cap agreement, and a one-time salary deferral. Insiders also believe that the likely escrow agreement will result in 20 to 25 percent of players’ salaries being retained by the owners, however, with the salary deferral in the picture, once the escrow cap returns back to normal, players will gradually earn that money back.
If the players and the league do not reach an agreement, it will be interesting to see how many players choose to side with Panarin come Phases 3 and 4.
As far as NYCFC’s Moralez, the uncertainties surrounding player safety ahead of the MLS is Back tournament are the Argentine’s major worries. Moralez told Newsday reporter Ryan Gerbosi that he is “not in agreement with going” but will still travel with the team and play in each game out of respect for the players’ vote. “I was always against it, but you know a decision was made, and it’s a decision that I have to accept,” Moralez added.
Orlando, the site of MLS’s tournament “bubble,” has seen a recent spike in positive coronavirus tests, including record single-day highs in the city’s surrounding counties.
Moralez’s opposition to the league’s decision to stage the tournament was primarily based on his family’s concerns over the pandemic. With cases increasing in Florida and two young kids at home, the situation understandably is weighing heavily on Moralez’s mind.
Fellow NYCFC midfielder Alex Ring, while acknowledging the team’s eagerness to resume play, has been keeping a close eye on the coronavirus situation in Florida and does not believe that player safety should be risked just to play the tournament. “Everyone wants to get back, everyone’s stoked to play but it shouldn’t be on behalf of your health or safety for sure,” the team’s captain told Newsday. Ring, also a father, understands Moralez’s concerns for his family’s safety. “The state that Florida is in, I think it has to be safe for us. I mean, we’re putting a lot on the line, we have families and whatnot.”
The MLS will be kicking off its return to play tournament on July 8 and the NHL is aiming to resume play July 30.
