What latest plans to salvage 2019-20 means for Vegas Golden Knights

It seems every day that a new radical idea emerges as to how the NHL can salvage the 2019-20 season, and we dived into what the latest proposal means for the Vegas Golden Knights.

We’re now more than a month into the new normal with the entire sporting world on lockdown, although it seems an eternity since the Vegas Golden Knights last hit a puck in competitive anger.

With the world still grappling with the COVID-19 crisis, there is no return date in sight for hockey or other sports.

That hasn’t stopped the NHL or major other sports leagues trying to thrash out different ways their respective sport can return when it is appropriate, and the ideas will keep on coming the longer this lockdown goes on for.

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For instance, we’ve heard the possibility of the NHL expanding the Stanley Cup Playoffs to 24-teams, while playing out the remainder of the season in neutral locations such as North Dakota or New Hampshire was another idea that was floated out there.

However, there has been a significant development over the last couple of days that could have an impact on the Golden Knights.

According to both Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet and Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, the NHL has now abandoned plans to play in far-flung outposts such as North Dakota.

Instead, the league is now targeting a return to action in July where they will use two-four of their arenas in areas where the COVID-19 outbreak has been managed and restrictions aren’t in place.

Wyshynski also stated that it is his belief the NHL still intends on finishing the regular season, although the NHLPA would need to sign off on any such proposal.

However, this latest idea is interesting in more ways than one.

For starters, the NHL’s plan to use only two or four arenas in certain areas would appear to rule the Golden Knights out when it comes to playing at T-Mobile Arena.

After all, Vegas and Nevada has been hit pretty badly by COVID-19 and it appears unlikely that the NHL would look to use Sin City as a base.

On the flip side, however, there are currently a bevy of empty hotels that could be used to house teams so it is possible that Vegas could be one of the cities used if local restrictions allows it to.

Secondly, it seems that the NHL is hellbent on completing the regular season in some way shape or form before jumping into the playoffs.

It makes sense given that a number of high-profile players have stressed their desire to get some games under their belt before preparing to do battle in the playoffs, while it would allow the NHL to keep the playoff format as is rather than extending the field to 24 teams as has been suggested before.

Fans could also be welcome to attend games but in limited numbers, which is to be expected given that the majority of us are still on lockdown.

So, how does all of the above impact the Golden Knights?

Well, as we’ve mentioned in previous pieces, whether the NHL finishes the regular season or not, the Golden Knights will enter the postseason as a top seed and with home-ice advantage.

The only real difference if the regular season is completed and, as a result, the league sticks with the usual 16-team format, then the Knights won’t get a bye in the First Round.

There is also a chance they could play in-front of fans but, at the very least, they will get the chance to play in an NHL arena.

Now, the exact logistics of how this would work haven’t been disclosed as of yet, but it will be interesting to see how the NHL plans to execute this particular idea.

Other reports have also suggested that the 2020 NHL Entry Draft will still take place in June, which seems a clear ploy to keep hockey relevant before games return.

But, personally, I am a fan of this latest idea and, although nothing is concrete, keeping teams at NHL arenas in cities that are already equipped for major sports is the sensible option.

I am also a huge advocate of finishing the regular season as I feel that is the best way to protect the integrity of the Stanley Cup.

Again, the details will need to be thrashed out before anything is finalized but resuming the season in July could be a win for the Golden Knights.

They will get the chance to wrap up the Pacific Division while regaining their sharpness, before delving into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and competing for a championship.

Plus, if this idea is executed then it means that we will be getting Vegas Golden Knights hockey sooner rather than later and that is reason to celebrate.