The NHL Should Not Sacrifice the 2020-21 Season:

Throughout the past few months, the world has been in a time of uncertainty. Although not as relevant as many other pressing issues during this time, the NHL's current future is at stake.

Within the NHL and the NHLPA, there have been lots many debates and ideas for the future plans of the season. Of these ideas, the one gaining traction recently, as the Hockey Insiders on TSN reported, the NHL is looking into starting the 2020-21 season in December, as opposed to October. They plan on having a full finish to the regular season and a non-expanded playoff format when the season returns. Ultimately, this plan could finish as late as August. This plan of playing both the regular season games and playoffs when the NHL returns pose various issues:

A two-month layoff of the 20-21 season would convey that the NHL is prioritizing the 19-20 regular season and playoffs.

If the season were to finish in August, the NHL would then need to give the players somewhat of an offseason to recover for the teams who had success in the playoffs. This would be detrimental to the teams who did not make the playoffs, as they would only be playing about twelve regular-season games in the span of nine months. If the season were to go until late August, because of the prioritization of the regular season, players who are not involved in the playoff format should not play for the rest of the season. Having no regular-season could then allow the season to complete in a more timely fashion. Also, for teams not eligible for the playoffs, playing no games would be much more beneficial for their long term success and health. Additionally, for the teams who don't make the playoffs, there is a serious risk of injury when these teams are only playing a handful of irrelevant games, after taking three months off. Even if the season starts as late as December, why risk injury so that the team can be depleted by the season's start? Why risk sacrificing two seasons when we can only sacrifice one? Isn't having a season starting at a more normal time with an expanded playoff format, better than starting in December because the NHL prioritized twelve games the season before?

Instead, the NHL should just prioritize finishing this year's playoffs. However, there should be a limit to the time frame of these playoffs. The less time the NHL spends playing this season, the earlier the next season can start.

The biggest problem throughout this process is that the NHL, with Commissioner Gary Bettman at the forefront, has maintained their priorities of also finishing this year's regular season. This is not smart as playoffs are much more important. If the NHL truly wants to finish this season they will need to do it in a much more structured fashion. We cannot waste an extra month playing regular-season games. Unless the NHL devises a plan that does not increase the risk of injury and will not have an effect on when the 20-21 season begins, there should be no regular season. For instance, if the NHL determines a way in which the teams are able to play in a centralized location with multiple games a day, without the increased of injury then those extra twelve games will not be an issue.

As an alternative, the NHL can expand the playoff format this year. Allowing more teams, will not only enhance fan engagement throughout the global fanbase, but it will also bring in much of the revenue that was lost during this time. Prioritizing this year's full playoffs will financially be more beneficial than focusing on finishing the regular season and their local tv deals. With an expanded playoff format, a training camp, and full playoffs (because of no regular-season games), the 19-20 playoffs have the opportunity to be one of the most exciting yet.

My point is that the NHL season shouldn’t be extended past the first week of August. If the season were to be started in December it would be detrimental to the totality of next year's NHL season. If the regular season were to be canceled, the NHL could also eliminate the extra bye-week in the middle of the season, allowing the NHL to feasibly start the 20-21 season as early as November without hindering its value. Starting the season in November as opposed to December will make a big difference in the long term value of the 20-21 season.

However, there are many conditions for my idea. My point becomes irrelevant if this December plan is based on the fact that fans will only be able to access games starting in December. If the medical experts believe that December is the most viable option that would be safe for fans, then, of course, the NHL should prioritize both this year's regular season and playoffs. Fans are extremely imperative to the game of hockey. Not having fans at the start of the regular season in October/November would be much more detrimental than starting the season in December with fans.

There is something special about a full eighty-two game season. Having a season in that capacity truly enhances the value of winning the Stanley Cup. Going through the ups and downs of a long and beating season with a tight-knit group is truly a lifelong experience. Only having a seventy game season will negatively impact the so-called "grind" of a season. What makes winning the Stanley Cup so admirable is the fact that it is such a long regular season and playoffs. Players need to be rewarded for being the most motivated to compete and win, especially when their body is telling them otherwise. If there is only a seventy game season those individual players and teams might not end up being rewarded.

To reiterate, one season with an asterisk is way better than two.

No matter the end result, the NHL plan will be somewhat flawed. The world that we are living in today is very different from the world we lived in a few months ago. We are no longer living in ideal or perfect times anymore. The whole landscape of humanity will be affected in the near future and in the long term. Times will from now on be much different. Therefore, we should take what we can get and make the best out of it. Truthfully, any type of hockey would have a positive impact on the morale of society. Hopefully, this pandemic will continue its decline and we can get back to watching the players on the ice.

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