An official from the North American Ice Hockey League (NHL) said on Saturday that it was not excluded to finish the regular season, interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, and to organize a normal phase of play-offs in the month of August. Bill Daly, Assistant Commissioner of the NHL, explained that the NHL had asked the multi-purpose arenas and arenas, which usually host the games, if they were available until the end of August.
The postponement of the Olympics frees up slots
Because the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics from 2020 to 2021 has freed up slots for television broadcasting. "I think over time we have come to realize that we may have a bigger window than we originally thought when it comes to the summer months and when we have to finish things to be ready for a full regular season next year, "he said.
"Depending on how things are going, we would like to be able to play in the spring, and if we have to overtake in early summer, this is a problem that would not be one," continued Bill Daly. In this optimistic scenario, the situation currently created by the pandemic would then have been partly resolved in North America.
Stopped since March 12
"But I don't think we are advanced enough in understanding what is possible at this stage," he added, however. "We think that if we had to, we could have the opportunity to play in August. If matches need to be played, we will find ways to fix matches, "said Bill Daly.
The NHL interrupted its regular season on March 12, when there were just over three weeks of competition before the play-offs, which normally last two months until early June. Three players in the NHL have officially contracted the coronavirus, two from the Ottawa Senators and one from the Colorado Avalanche franchise.
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