NHL Hoping To Finish The Season, Time To Turn The Page And Focus On The 2020-2021 Season

By Jordan Long

The NHL is still trying to find a way for games to be played.  The NHL has been suspended since play was halted on March 12th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  When play was halted, teams had between 10-13 games left in the regular season.   The NHL would like to be able to resume the season and award the Stanley Cup.

                The NHL in its’ history has not crowned a champion twice, 1919 and 2005.  In 1919 the league was forced to shut down because of the flu pandemic.   The 2005 NHL Lockout wiped out the whole season.   The NHL has many plans they have discussed including holding games at neutral sites, in-home buildings with no fans, and expanding the playoff field.   If they were to conclude the year, the 2020-2021 season would begin in December.  The NHL usually starts in October, but it makes sense for franchises and athletes to have rest and not a rushed start.

                According to nbcsports.com, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, “I believe that if the right time comes, and the right circumstances, based on all of the options that we’re considering and our ability to execute them, we’ll get this season done. I don’t want to sound Pollyanna, but canceling is too easy a solution. That means you stop working hard to do all of the things that we’re doing, and I ultimately believe that there will be an opportunity.”

                The biggest problem with coming back is player safety. If a player contracts COVID the league will have to stop play which could be 2 or 3 weeks.  The other difficulty is what happens when a player is sidelined with an injury and can’t play.  The American Hockey League, the NHL farm system, has decided to stop play for the rest of 2020.  The NHL may not have a way for players to be replaced in the lineup.

                The writing is on the wall.  It is time for the NHL to go ahead and cancel the rest of 2020.  It is not fair to risk the health of not only the players, but the officials, coaches, staff of the teams, and even the broadcasters.  It is too dangerous.  It is time for them to focus on playing the entire 2020-2021 season.