Major pro sports leagues are over a month into their shutdowns and have been discussing options for safely resuming their seasons. Playing games without fans in attendance seems to be the likely outcome for many leagues. Whatever the case, The Great One is optimistic about a return for the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky told The Associated Press on Sunday that he believes the NHL will return this summer, possibly in June.
“I really believe somehow, someway, that the leadership in this country and in Canada, that we’re going to figure this out,” Gretzky said. “And I really believe that we’ll see hockey and some sort of other sports in June, July and August, albeit in a different way, but I really see it coming to fruition. I think it’s going to happen.”
The NHL shut down its games after March 11, leaving just over three weeks of the regular season remaining before the playoffs. The league has discussed options such as resuming with the playoffs played at neutral site locations.
Whatever is decided, the return of pro hockey will be welcomed by many — and Gretzky, the NHL’s career leader in scoring, thinks it will be happening.
