Gretzky: NHL will resume in “June, July and August”

The Great One is holding out hope. 

Just like the rest of the hockey world, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is hopeful that the 2019-20 NHL season will resume at some point, likely during the summer. Gretzky spoke with the Associated Press this past weekend and offered up a refreshingly optimistic take on the paused season.

“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.”

By leadership is he referring to Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump? Let’s not get too far into politics here but… I don’t know if I trust either of those two to get the NHL back on the ice. As much as it pains me to say this, I think we have to put our full trust in Gary Bettman to do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself.

For what it’s worth, Gretzky admits that not even he, The Great One, can predict what will happen.

“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.”

In the meantime, Gretzky will take on Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in a head-to-head EA Sports NHL 20 matchup on Wednesday.

Check it out:

From the Washington Post:

Washington Post - When Wayne Gretzky saw the Instagram video of Alex Ovechkin playing EA Sports’ NHL 20 video game with his son, Sergei, on his lap last month, The Great One had an idea. He contacted Sergey Kocharov, the Capitals’ vice president of communications, whom he got to know while both were with the Phoenix Coyotes, and inquired about the possibility of arranging a virtual showdown with Ovechkin.

It’s happening. Next Wednesday, Gretzky and Ovechkin will square off in NHL 20, in an event dubbed “The Great One vs. The Great Eight Showcase." The best-of-three series will stream live on the Capitals’ Twitch channel beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time and both Ovechkin and Gretzky will appear. Viewers will have the opportunity to donate to the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and the Edmonton Food Bank to benefit the coronavirus relief effort.

“Obviously we’re a little better when we have our skates on and a hockey stick in our hands than we are when we have controllers, but it’s not about that," Gretzky said. “It’s more about the ability to help people that are less fortunate and for fans to enjoy a night of us not looking very talented at what we’re doing. It’ll be a fun night for a good cause.