NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Dishes Possible Return To The Ice

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 6: Bobby Ryan #9 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

This week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman answered some looming questions about the NHL season, it’s return, and what execs are doing now to inch closer to being back on the ice.

Bettman stated that player safety and readiness is the most important aspect to focus on. The NHL commissioner believes that aside from protecting players and coaches from the virus, there should be a three week training camp to make sure players are in shape before they proceed with the season and eventually, the playoffs.

Bettman said the most logical idea would be to split the league into four separate cities. Each stadium would play three games a day and the arena would need four locker rooms to accommodate for the packed schedule and to keep the distance as much as possible.

Bettman told Sportsnet, “maybe it’ll be two cities. It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment.”

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He continued by mentioning that dividing the league could be centered around specific league divisions.

“But the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t a hot spot and has what need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you’re playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel, there does need to be ice for practice.”

Like other major sports leagues, the NHL has been on lock down since early March, and players and coaches have been instructed to self-quarantine until April 30.