The Canadian government is expected to reduce its federal quarantine from 14 days to seven days for NHL players traded from American teams, a league source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
The NHL league office has yet to receive official notification from the government, though it is expected ahead of the April 12 NHL trade deadline. The new seven-day quarantine, wich should help open up the trade market, will include additional testing for players.
CBC first reported on the government’s decision. The NHL’s seven teams in Canada formally requested these measures from their respective provincial governments earlier in the season.
There has only been one trade this season featuring a player from an American-based team being moved to Canada: Pierre Luc-Dubois was sent from Columbus to Winnipeg in January. Though the Jets requested an exemption, it was only approved by Manitoba, and not the federal government. Dubois was forced to quarantine for 14 days before joining the team, and sustained a lower body injury after his second game back.
The NHL has had to work with the Canadian government closely over the pandemic as the border remains closed for non-essential travel — the driving force to have an All-Canadian division for the 2021 season.