The longer that the NHL remains out of action while continuing to maintain that they want to complete the 2019-20 regular season and have a full postseason, the more likely it becomes that next season will be affected. Boston Bruins president Cam Neely tells NBC Sports that not only is it possible that 2020-21 could be delayed, it’s a widely accepted outcome across the NHL in order to properly finish the current season. Neely states that both players and owners alike feel that it is important to complete the 2019-20 campaign if at all possible:
The feeling is there’s an opportunity to be able to push next season back and still get an 82-game schedule in next year. Everything is on the table to try and get the season completed.
Neely’s stress that a full season next year remains an important part of any plan to continue the current season aligns with what the NHL has already said. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has already confirmed that the NHL would not entertain shortening the 2020-21 season just to accommodate the end of the 2019-20 season. However, that doesn’t seem like it will be necessary. The league is currently exploring using “hub cities” from each of the four divisions to play a condensed schedule that can be more easily safeguarded from the threats of Coronavirus by limiting travel and controlling facilities. Such a plan could allow for the season to re-start sooner rather than later. In fact, there have been whispers that training camps could open within a month with games starting as early as June. What remains to be seen is how much time would be needed one play does resume to wrap up the regular season and play the entire postseason.
Neely’s Bruins are one club especially invested in a continuation of the season. Boston was in first place in the league standings by a fairly wide margin when the season was suspended and many of their core players are in the twilight of their careers and want another shot at the Stanley Cup, especially after missing out on the title by one game last year. In fact, the Bruins may even be in favor of jumping straight to the postseason, though Neely does not believe that the NHLPA would approve of that plan. It seems Boston will have to earn the President’s Trophy with a few more regular season wins before getting their shot a potential delayed playoffs.
you love to see it
Hopefully when resumed it would be Fantastic for all Hockey Fans, hopefully will get going resuming final schedule maybe reducing first round to best of 5 then best of 7 in other rounds , then Stanley Cup , 2020 NHL Draft , and Free Agency normally held July 1st to be pushed back or have both Draft and Free Agency close together within few days , possibly moving into break for playoffs teams , training camps for 2020-21 season then new season. It would benefit teams that don’t make the playoffs immensely with the extra time off. Let’s play Hockey!
I sense *somebody’s* getting…anxious!
:)
That makes “at least” two of us!
This is going to get ugly either way
You got teams that where suffering with injuries that could now have a full roster and teams that where on hot streaks who could just fall apart or vice versa
But I can’t wait I hope the Bs can come away on the upside of this and win the cup
But no matter what people/fans are going to cry no matter what happens to there team
why is teams getting injured players back for a playoff push or run a bad thing? I don’t follow.
I would rather see the season just end and prep for next year! If the season does conclude no matter who wins it there will be an asterisk for sure. If they don’t play 82 games I don’t know how you fairly who makes the playoffs, I think the 24 team is the only way to do it evenly for both conferences
With empty buildings all but guaranteed, TV revenue will be “King”…and there will be a hell of a lot more TV revenue generated from completing the season and having playoffs than there would be from starting the season on time next year.
It ruins the aesthetic of the sport
The TV revenue isn’t going to increase, especially in the summer months when people who have been in lockdown for months are (hopefully) freed from that. Watching TV isn’t going to be priority #1 for the casual hockey fan.
If it becomes to difficult to complete this season, what I’d like to see is the 2019/20 season essentially merged with the 20/21 season. Count this seasons standings towards next seasons so that 19/20 still has meaning to it.
I think the NHL and NBA are waiting on MLB. Baseball owners seem desperate to get back. How that goes good be the determining factor for the other leagues. Baseball wants to be the guinea pig in all this, the other leagues content to let them.