Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher thinks there can be hockey this summer season. And that feeling comes from what he is aware of about one of many males in cost.
Talking on a convention name with reporters Thursday, Gallagher mentioned NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is “very motivated” when it comes to finishing the 2019-20 marketing campaign.
The league paused its season March 12 with 189 video games left on the common schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There have been rumours and stories about varied eventualities for an ultimate return to play, together with the league centralizing every of its 4 divisions in separate cities, sequestering gamers, video games without followers, and the playoffs bleeding into August and September.
Gallagher mentioned if he had to wager — and it is solely a guess — the puck will certainly be dropped someday after Canada Day.
“A lot depends on the medical professionals,” he mentioned. “To me, it simply actually looks like Gary Bettman’s going to attempt to do no matter he can to have hockey. He is going to have to meet a number of our wants as gamers and what we’re gonna clearly need again. But when I had to guess, I feel there will be some type of Stanley Cup playoffs.
“They’re most likely going to have to get inventive with the format at this level, but when I had to guess I might say in some unspecified time in the future the Stanley Cup would get awarded.”
The longer athletes keep on the uninvolved due to Covid-19, the higher the probabilities some veterans resolve to dangle them up.
However Gallagher — who referred to himself as a “fairly optimistic man” — considers there is a means ahead.
“A whole lot of it is outdoors our management,” he stated. “A whole lot of it’s what the medical professionals say and what the scientists are saying and what the mayors, the governors are all saying, and if it is even allowed.
