from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

Every member of society is now being asked to make sacrifices in order to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

That includes NHL players, who really have no idea if the resume button will ever be hit on their paused 2019-20 season.

But for now, in addition to self-quarantining, players are being told to stay close to their home NHL cities. In fact, a memo went out Saturday requiring any member of a Canadian team that left for the U.S. to return immediately so that “they can serve their government-mandated quarantine expeditiously.”

The league views that as an essential step while it tries to piece together a plan that will allow for the Stanley Cup to be awarded this season.

“Two reasons, really,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said via email on Sunday. “For their own protection in avoiding potential at a very high-risk time. And to give us an opportunity to assess the overall health of the NHL community.

“[It] will allow us to plan reasonable next steps.”

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