Gary Bettman meets with Ron McLean, shares details of NHL’s plans to resume the 2019-20 season

In case you missed it earlier today there were multiple online reports that the NHL has stepped away from tentative plan to use non-NHL rinks in “neutral sites” for the resumption of the 2019-20 season and is hoping to relaunch for July.

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Confirming @FriedgeHNIC report that the NHL's "neutral site" (i.e. non-NHL arena) plan for summer restart is dead. No North Dakota. No New Hampshire.

Plan never got out of the concept stages due to lack of accommodations, and challenges in staging and televising games.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 22, 2020

JUST IN: NHL looking at restarting season in July.

Games would be played at 4 or 5 neutral sites with limited or no fans, according to Florida Panthers president Matt Caldwell.

On the conference call, he said this plan is not finalized.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) April 22, 2020

Further to that Wyshynski also reports that the league is pushing forward with a plan that would see two to four NHL arenas host games to enable the remainder of the regular season and Playoffs.

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Latest push is for NHL to return to 2-4 of its arenas in areas where the COVID-19 outbreak has been managed and restrictions would allow it. Very much targeting completion of the regular season. No timetable. NHLPA needs to sign off on any of it.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 22, 2020

Now that’s interesting…

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman discussed the possibility of having “four NHL teams” host regular season and Stanley Cup Playoff games.

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Gary Bettman tells Ron MacLean that the NHL is looking at as many as four locations to resume play in a centralized way: "We need a lot of ice."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 22, 2020

Gary Bettman tells Ron MacLean that he introduced the idea of a June entry draft to the GMs yesterday as a "trial balloon." Adds: "We don't live in a world of perfect any more. We're going to have to make adjustments."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 22, 2020

So who would host these games? Most Canadian markets have done an excellent job of flattening the curve and limiting the outbreak. In fact, in all of Manitoba there are only six confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Would the Winnipeg Jets make a good host? You have to imagine that Toronto is being considered, Montreal and in fact all of Quebec has been hit hard by the virus though. Vancouver is well situated for Western Conference teams, but Edmonton and Calgary have to both be in consideration, as well.

Two teams that have confirmed to be in discussions with the NHL though are the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild.

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Per league source, the Coyotes have expressed interest in Arizona serving as a host site for the continuation of the NHL season.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) April 22, 2020

yeah, minnesota in consideration as one of the sites. sources say 2/3 of nhl cities eliminated from consideration as of now
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 22, 2020

Interesting…

Again, both locations are fairly central and have the infrastructure to support an influx of players and staff.

Another consideration: Buffalo. The Sabres’ home arena, KeyBank Center, is attached to a building that houses two additional ice rinks, a Marriott hotel and a world class gym and training facility. In effect, the players would never need to leave the premises.

Bettman would go on to share more interesting sentiments concerning the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and the NHL's insane loss of revenues.

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Gary Bettman tells Ron MacLean that he introduced the idea of a June entry draft to the GMs yesterday as a "trial balloon." Adds: "We don't live in a world of perfect any more. We're going to have to make adjustments."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 22, 2020

Gary Bettman to Ron MacLean: "Let's be clear about one thing: We have no revenues coming in right now and that poses an issue."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 22, 2020

Check out the full interview below: