Wayne Gretzky optimistic NHL will return this summer
There has been many questions surrounding the NHL and whether or not the season will resume. The league has been suspended since March 12th due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Wayne Gretzky, speaking to The Associated Press on Sunday, said he's hopeful hockey and other sports will be able to return this summer.
“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.”
“The Great One” has been spending the self-quarantine in California and has been trying to help the league and its fans out by doing content pieces. Him and Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin recently taped their first joint interview which will air Monday. The two will also play the NHL20 video game against each other on Wednesday.
As far as the league returning, there have been many rumours and speculations, but nothing has yet to be confirmed. It seems that if the NHL is able to return, there would likely be no fans in attendance, and perhaps all the games played out of one arena. Regardless, Gretzky believes something will be figured out.
“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.”
Although he has no official say on when or if the league will return, it certainly feels refreshing to hear someone of Gretzky's stature say this. Right now, sports returning doesn't feel overly likely however as he suggested, we don't know what the future months hold. It is possible that this whole situation gets better to the point that we are able to have the NHL return, even if that is with no fans in attendance.
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MAY 20, 2026
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| Brett Howden | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ross Colton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tomas Hertl | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ben Hutton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mitch Marner | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brandon Saad | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Colton Sissons | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Devon Toews | - | 1 | 1 | |
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