With Stanley Cup playoffs originally scheduled to start the 8th of April, the hockey world, currently paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finds itself wondering: what now?
There have not been any concrete decisions made about when hockey could continue, as many of the structural and health concerns are still without answers. Commissioner Gary Bettman recognized these obstacles with positivity stating, “We want to be ready to go as soon as we get a green light, and the green light may not be crystal clear because there may still be some places in the country you can’t play and other places you can.” Bettman, along with other commissioners from major leagues, communicated this past week as they began to discuss potential start dates. While there was not a concrete date set at the end of the meeting, there is an aim for late summer or early fall, dependent on when they receive the all clear from major health organizations.
When the NHL season was placed on hold, there were three final weeks left un-played, and executives, players and administrators alike we challenged to determine how to handle the games that were scheduled during this break. There were obviously a few paths the NHL could take. Scrapping the last few weeks to make room for playoffs, could have been beneficial in timing, but it would have rushed teams and players to get ready quickly, stressing them both physically and mentally. The other way to handle this could be extending the playoff period to incorporate times for teams to train and be at the top of their game when the push begins.
As most professional sports leagues are asking, if playoffs happen, what can we see in location and fan involvement? Organizations like the NBA, MLB and the NHL, are considering alternative ways to host games this coming summer. Playing in empty stadiums as well as multiple, regional locations, seem like the best alternatives in order to protect both players and fans. Greg Wyshynski, a journalist covering hockey for ESPN and the Atlantic, reminds fans to, “Think of it like the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto: playoff rounds with multiple teams playing at a single site, which would mean games could be staggered throughout the day at the venue.” This would limit travel for all those involved with teams as well as benefit revenue for the league.
As a nation, we need to keep hope that hockey will come back. Whether this comes in the form of empty arena broadcasts or an expanded playoff field later in the summer, we have learned during this pandemic, that something is better than nothing.