Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt soaked up the sun as he prepared for his next turn in the cornhole tournament, watching his teammates relax during an August afternoon barbecue. It was a backyard barbecue, minus the backyard, taking place on a hotel roof deck in Edmonton.
"We're trying to emulate Vegas as much as possible in the bubble," he said with a laugh.
One of the greatest challenges in the NHL's restarted season -- in which 24 teams were placed in the Toronto and Edmonton hubs -- has been finding relaxation and mental solace under unprecedented conditions.