Report: Some owners have asked for next season to be scrapped completely

A new report suggests the 2020-21 NHL season would be nixed entirely if some team owners were to get their way. The article by ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski states some owners approached NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suggesting next season be scrubbed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to several sources, a few owners have suggested to Bettman that the league might be better off financially if it shuts down next season, since playing in empty arenas could be crippling to the bottom line. The NHL is still very much a gate-driven league in comparison to a league like the NFL, which draws most of its revenue from media rights. Bettman responded that the NHL can't lose a season because it's too damaging in the long term, as the league has learned before in lockout seasons. So it's a safe bet that there will be some version of the NHL next season, though it's going to look different than what we're used to.

The same report by ESPN suggests the NHL will not go lower than a 48 game season. However, it has yet to be decided how or where it will be played.

An article by The Athletic earlier this year said owners will lose $1.5 to $2 million per game without fans in the stands. That money is made on tickets, concessions, merchandise and a host of other products and services. $2 million per game over the course of 41 games would pay players on any team spending to the salary cap next season, an example of just how vital that revenue is to owners.

Source: ESPN

MUST READ

20 minutes ago  |  By Julien Trekker Nashville Predators Place Forward on Waivers

56 minutes ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Vancouver Canucks Place Expensive Defenseman on the Trade Block, Per Elliotte Friedman

2 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Young First Overall Pick Linked to the Vancouver Canucks in Potential Blockbuster Elias Pettersson Trade

4 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Trade Talks Reportedly Heating Up Around $76 Million Former Norris Trophy Finalist

17 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Shockingly Suspends Minnesota Wild Forward 10 Games

19 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Major Update on the Utah Hockey Club's Rebrand Logo Finalists After Fan Outrage

20 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Quinn Hughes' Agent Addresses Media After Rumours Swirl

22 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente MLB Investigation Leads to Firing of Longtime Official for Illegal Practices

MORE STORIES