issue 7// vol 47 sports // no. 9 The NHL and NBA finish their seasons with no positive cases of coronavirus » Severed contact approach taken by leagues proves successful Mo Hussain Sports Reporter Ww reflecting on these past NHL and NBA seasons respectively, it’s quite remarkable to see how both leagues managed to coordinate the continuation of their seasons despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Back in March, both the NBA and NHL among many other sporting leagues suspended league play within 48 hours after the coronavirus was officially declared as a pandemic by the WHO. At the time, it could’ve been very difficult for anyone to see how both leagues would manage to return to play considering how many different variables would have to be in line in order for acomeback to be feasible. Whether it is figuring out how to bring all of the players and personnel from every team, finding a place that would fit all of them in, catering, how to bring in members of the media, and dealing with all the other Three big NHL off-season moves factors that come with coronavirus. However, as time went on, both leagues managed to resume on July 30 (NBA) and August 1 (NHL). Fast forward to today, and both leagues somehow managed to finish their entire seasons with both leagues (NBA and NHL) luckily seeing no positive tests for coronavirus. “The NBA, like the NHL, succeeded with COVID because they essentially eradicated the virus in a small population and almost totally severed their face-to- face contact with the outside world,’ said that are worth noting » What does the future hold for these players and their new contracts? Mo Hussain Sports Reporter A from what mainly happened with the Canucks this off-season, there are plenty of other big moves that teams made during this year’s free agent season. Here are three big free agent moves from this year’s offseason that shifted a bit of the hockey landscape. Blues make some changes The 2019 Stanley cup champions have had quite an interesting past couple of months. In addition to losing in the first round of the playoffs, the team just went through a massive change with the departure of former captain Alex Pietrangelo, and the arrival of Torey Krug. Krug, who picked up 49 points with the Boston Bruins last year, was signed for $45,500,000 over the course of seven years and will join Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko on St. Louis’ blue line. Meanwhile, Pietrangelo, who picked up 52 points with the Blues, agreed to an eight-year $61,600,000 deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Pietrangelo’s decision to depart from St. Louis wasn't an easy one; “It wasn’t as easy as maybe some people think it was for us. When you have your roots tied here and you've been here for so long, it’s definitely a difficult decision. But I tried to take as much emotion out of it as I could,” said Pietrangelo in an interview on NHL. com. It will be interesting to see how both the Blues and Pietrangelo will fare without each other this upcoming season One last run After 15 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, veteran Joe Thornton has decided to take his talents back to the eastern conference. Thornton, who was last a part of the epidemiologist Zachary Binney in a tweet. As for what is going to happen next season, the NHL is looking to bring back its season relatively soon: “Based upon what we have learned and what we know and what we still don’t know, I can say that we are now focused ona Jan 1 start for next season,” said Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL. eastern conference playing for the Boston Bruins, agreed to sign a one-year $700,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. “This team is you know a very very good team and I need to wina Stanley cup and I think this is a great team that can do that,” said Thronton to Mike Zeisberger of NHL. com ina media call. Throughout his career, Thornton has accomplished pretty much everything there is in the hockey world. This includes a 2010 Olympic gold medal, Hart Memorial trophy, art ross trophy, and he reached the Stanley Cup finals back in 2016. However, the 41-year-old has yet to capture the Stanley Cup, and it will be interesting to see if this move to Toronto will help accomplish that. Interesting move for Buffalo This offseason also saw the Buffalo Sabres agree to sign former Hart Memorial trophy winner Taylor Hall to a one-year $8,000,000 As one could imagine, the NBA still has to get through its draft and free agency season before completely setting their sights on the start of next season. However, according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, he says his “best guess for the start of 2020-21 season would be in 2021.” contract. Hall will join the Sabres with the hopes of helping bring them back into a competitive playoff contender. “Even before free agency, Buffalo was a place that I told my agent Darren Ferris that I would think about playing there. It would be something that I think would be enjoyable and I’m really glad that we're here,” said Hall in a TSN video call. Hall, who picked up a combined 52 points in 65 games playing for both the New Jersey Devils and the Arizona Coyotes, said that the decision to only sign for one year can help keep his options open moving forward. “Tt went from wanting to get a six or seven-year contract to thinking hey maybe a one-year deal might be best for me financially and personally. And then we can see what the landscape of the NHL and really the whole US and Canada looks like after that,” said Hall in the same video.