NHL officials are not sure yet as to when the league will make a call about trying the finish the '19-20 seasonGETTY IMAGES
Oilers Chair Bob Nicholson believes the NHL is "really determined to finalize this season,” regardless of it starting back up in July or August, according to Mark Spector of SPORTSNET.ca. Nicholson noted that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has a "number of different formulas for us to play” during the summer. Nicholson "outlined the most plausible scenario," which would entail playing out the season "through August, September and October." Then, Nicholson said the league could play the '20-21 season "from November through to June, then getting it back into the regular course (for the following season)." Spector noted NHL execs have been "steadfast in not wanting to compromise the integrity" of the '20-21 season while also "finding a viable way to conclude the current campaign" (SPORTSNET.ca, 4/14). In Tampa, John Romano notes Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik also is "optimistic about the possibility" of finishing the season. Vinik said, "I am optimistic that we will be able to have some hockey games this summer, or many hockey games this summer. I don’t know about having fans attend. Frankly that’s a bit hard, at least right now, to envision, although things can change" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/15).
SENATORS' TAKE: In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch notes Senators GM Pierre Dorion "remains optimistic the club will get back together again." He even is "still hopeful" the Senators -- who currently have a league-worst 62 points -- "would get a chance to play their final 11 games" of the regular-season schedule. He said, "I believe sports are something we’re going to see, whether it’s a two weeks, a month or months, I’m very optimistic we’re going to see some hockey and what makes me so optimistic is that Gary Bettman and the league are going to do what’s right for everyone" (OTTAWA SUN, 4/15). Dorion did acknowledge that his club has "expressed their desire to league officials for how they would like to see" the '19-20 season conclude. He explained, "We’ve made three proposals to the league. Our hockey operations group worked really hard in making three different kind of proposals for resumptions of regular season play, the playoffs and draft lottery -- all items that are related to hockey personnel decisions." TSN.ca's Ian Mendes reported those proposals were "passed along directly" from Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk to Bettman (TSN.ca, 4/14).
ICE IS MELTING: TSN's Pierre LeBrun noted while the NHL has extended the self-quarantine of players, coaches and staff through April 30, officials are "not sure yet" as to when the league will make a call about trying to finish the '19-20 season. One team governor said that "by late May they should have an idea." Another governor said that by "mid-June you really have to know what you are doing." LeBrun: "Keep in mind, the NHL is still in phase one of self-quarantine. Phase two is when players can get together in small groups and skate, and that doesn’t seem to be close" ("Insider Trading," TSN, 4/14). However, in L.A., Helene Elliott writes the only “reasonable option left” for the NHL is to “ditch the rest of the regular season.” Elliott: “Cancel the remaining games, about 15% of the schedule, so ticket-holding fans can get their money back to buy necessities. Cancel those games so teams that were eliminated don’t have to go through a farce of a training camp to play a dozen games just so Commissioner Gary Bettman can say the season was complete.” She continues, “Go right to the Stanley Cup playoffs if you must go at all, with qualifiers based on point percentage. ... Ending in July would be late enough but might be possible with a condensed playoff format, maybe with the first two rounds as best-of-five series and the last two as best-of-seven” (L.A. TIMES, 4/15).
