The big question on everyone’s mind Will the NHL resume? The 2019-2020 NHL season ended abruptly with the advancement of the novel coronavirus in North America.
Recently, Bill Guerin – the Minnesota WIld’s manager– stated that resuming the NHL season would be the right thing to do. It could happen as early as July.
But why July?
The NHL needs to be certain that it’s safe for everyone involved. Even if that means arenas full of empty seats. Another thing that we fans, just dying for action may not consider when it comes to safety is the players’ shape. We can’t just snap our fingers and expect these guys who have had a couple of months of and been in quarantine – so not able to skate and train like normal– to just step out and go full-out and full-contact. We would see injuries pile up needlessly. The players need time to get back in shape under semi-normal circumstances, meaning team scrimmages, and full team workouts.
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Commissioner Bettman told the press that the ideal situation would be to complete the regular-season. But also, that we don’t live in a perfect world, and adjustments will need to be made. He also went on to elaborate about where the games would take place and the logistical issue that come with NHL games.
“We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community, because if we’re going to be centralized, we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities.” – Bettman via NHL.com
He states that the likely scenario would be multiple games played per day at one venue. So, the place would need four solid locker rooms so they could be alternated and sanitized accordingly between games. I got to hand it to him, I didn’t think of that. And he is right, the stakes are too high to turn this into a race against the clock. If they are going to finish out the season, they have to do it right.
If the NHL elected to go straight into the playoffs it would look like this:
Out of the Atlantic Division, The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs would be locked into the No.1, No. 2, and No.3 spots.
In the Metro, the Washington Capitals would sit No. 2, The Philadelphia Flyers at No. 2, and the Pittsburgh Pens at No. 3.
The Eastern Conference Wildcards would both come out of the Metro. The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets both ended the season prematurely with 81 points apiece – the same as the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic.
Over in the Western Conference, the Central Division would be represented by the St. Louis Blues as the No. 1 seed, the Colorado Avalanch as the No. 2 seed, and the Dallas Stars as the No. 3 seed.
The Pacific Division would once again see the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the playoffs, taking the No. 1 seed. The Edmonton Oilers at No. 2, with 83 points, and the Calgary Flames with 79 points, pulling in that No. 3 spot.
The Winnipeg Jets would take the No. 4 seed, then it would be a shootout between the Vancouver Canucks ane the Nashville Predators for the No. 5 wildcard spot as they both have 78 points. But because of the head to heads, it’s the Preds that get the nod and take the final playoff spot.
The Rangers and Islanders are right on the cusp. And as you know, the Canucks and Wild as well. So what are your thoughts? Should the NHL do all they can to get the rest of the regular season going, or should they take their time and just skip to the playoffs as the standings are?
Will the NHL resume?- Let us know in the comments below if you think.
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