[browna]

Overall, I think the league wants the last half of the season, and playoffs, to have a decent amount / number of fans in most rinks. Now, that may end up being last third of the season, and playoffs.

So it’s a matter of timing as to start the season to time that up on the back end. That means trying to determine the practical matters of the vaccine roll out and additionally predicting the “natural” regression of the second wave, to come up with a theoretical time of when those things are going to happen. And factoring in early season rescheduling etc.

And, that changes week by week. When they started this negotiation (it was earlier then this, but let’s say) the weeks after the Cup was awarded, the Covid forecast was a lot different then now with the second wave hitting harder then many predicted. With the promise of a vaccine since, that changes things as well.

So that target is moving, nevermind the complication of 31 owners situations, regional health rules which are different everywhere, and the PA demands and handwringing on an ongoing basis.

I still think they should start sooner than later and give as much runway for getting the season done with situations dealt with as arise. Maybe it takes until July or August and not June, deal with it then, and you don’t have to pin a Game 7 SCF date down when you announce when games are going to start.