NHL commissioner Gary Betman had an hour and 10 minute phone call with all general managers today about the NHL returning.
There’s a lot to digest with this announcement, but one thing is for sure; sports are so close to returning.
There will be a 24 team playoff, top 12 teams per conference, I mean, the Blackhawks had to get in after all, right?
Betman announced there is a four phase plan and play will not resume until at least middle of July, but there is hope. Two host cities will soon be announced for the conferences, and one can only assume that it will be California and New York, but obviously we have to await and see those results.
Right now, this is what the playoffs will entail:
I mean, this is just awesome. Imagine when hockey returns and we just get to sit down ALL DAY and watch PLAYOFF hockey. The best playoffs in all four major sport leagues, I will fight anyone on that.
It’ll be like March Madness, but with hockey, and there is NOTHING wrong with that.
The NHL also announced the system for the lottery system, which odds remain the same for the number one overall pick, which is good, but there are two phases of the lottery system, if a playoff team wins it. Don’t even get me started on what that means, because I have no clue.
Well, to conclude, Betman also announced that next season will probably start around December or January instead of the usual October, which obviously makes sense. But then it was stated the cycle could remain the same for the next season. Which brings me to this; is the NHL schedule forever changed because of coronavirus? I guess only time will tell, I’m just happy one league has agreed to return. We are still a few months away, but sports are eventually going to be back!
CHILLS!!
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