With no immediate updates in regards to the resumption of sports worldwide, fans are looking for any reason to find hope. With the NHL extending its self-quarantine recommendations to April 30th, it’s difficult to predict when the games will resume.
Still, one individual who remains optimistic is Hall of Fame player Wayne Gretzky.
“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.”
At this time, NHL Players Association executive director Donald Fehr confirmed the NHL and NHLPA have not held discussions regarding the resumption of regular season play. As a result, fans will not be seeing any game-related odds for a while. Even the sportsbooks listed at Sports Betting Dime don’t have any NHL odds right now but once the sports world goes back to normalcy and games resume, there will be odds available.
On March 12th, the NHL suspended its play due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Maybe I’m wrong,” he said. “Maybe I’m too optimistic. I think I’m not. I hope that that’s a good sign for everyone that we’re moving on in life, in business, in sports. I really see in the next couple months something good happening.”
Commissioner Gary Bettman has not provided a clear update in regards to the solution moving forward for the NHL. A major factor that will come into play involved the outcome of the current season and how it impacts next season.
“We want to be ready to go as soon as we get a green light, and the green light may not be crystal clear because there may still some places in the country where you can’t play and other places where you can. We’re looking at all options. Nothing’s been ruled in, nothing’s been ruled out, and it’s largely going to be determined what we do by how much time there is because we have next season to focus on as well and the health of the country—and by the country I mean both Canada and the U.S. obviously.“
