Flames looking into holding training camp in U.S. to avoid quarantine rule

The Calgary Flames are preparing for the possibility of holding their training camp in the United States if players can't get around the 14-day quarantine rules in Canada.

"The logistics have been worked on for a camp in the U.S., if need be," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I don't want guys coming back to Calgary and sitting on their butts for two weeks in their condos and being out of shape when it's time to go again. It may make more sense for us to have camp in the U.S. so we can have guys together quicker and being productive. The quarantine issue is a big one."

The Canadian teams that are set to participate in the league's 24-team playoff have been in talks with the NHL and the federal government regarding the 14-day quarantine order, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported Monday. As it stands, any person entering Canada must quarantine in their own residence for two weeks.

Treliving believes that the rule for players returning to Canada doesn't need to be abandoned, but he suggested it should be amended.

"I think you can do it in a way where you're not putting anyone in the public in jeopardy," the GM said, according to Francis. “One of the ideas that makes sense is you identify who the players are and, yes, they would be quarantined, but we're going to extend your quarantine between your home and the Saddledome. The only place you're going is a bubble - it's with a peer group, not the public. And it's probably the safest, cleanest, most sanitized place in the city of Calgary right now. You're being tested on a regular basis."

The launch of Phase 2 of the return-to-play protocol on Monday means that teams are now permitted to open up their facilities and allow up to six skaters to use them at once. The Flames are expected to open their facilities later in the week despite only having a handful of players in Calgary.

With training camps reportedly set to begin July 10 at the earliest and the NHL still in the process of choosing its hub cities, the Flames are in no rush to make a decision.

"Your hands are tied a little bit because I want to get a head start," Treliving said, "but if we go do a camp now in the U.S. and all of a sudden we're playing in Edmonton or Vancouver, then we're really hooped because the whole team is in the U.S. and has to quarantine for two weeks."