COVID Cup Champions?

Tuesday afternoon long-time NHL commissioner Gary Bettman provided all sports fans a remarkable glimmer of hope, a plan for the resumption of play. While there are many logistical and timing details to be sorted out the NHL's plan is a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Premier players such as Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Philadelphia's James Van Riemsdyk collaborated with other players and NHL owners to lay out a blueprint for an incredibly unique 24 team Stanley Cup Playoff. The regular season is officially over. In the east the Presidents' Trophy winning Boston Bruins led by Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner David Pastrnak will join Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Washington in round robin play for seeding. St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas, and Dallas will do the same for the west. Most intriguing though is the additional eight teams that will have an outside shot at the Stanley Cup that the traditional format would not have permitted. At the freeze due to the global pandemic of the novel Coronavirus Montreal, Florida, Columbus, and the New York Rangers were not contenders for the Cup. And out west Chicago, Arizona, Winnipeg, and Minnesota were all outside of the picture entirely. But now these teams will have a shot to take out "true contenders" in the traditional format in a new best of five qualifying round. The development of this new round, an absence of fans, home ice, and a long layoff have led many to wonder if winning this year's Stanley Cup would be less than any other year or somehow tainted, hence the phrase "The COVID Cup." While some less worthy clubs will have a shot at the Cup in this one-time format, the greatest trophy in sports will not be any easier or less grueling to win. It is going to suck not have decibels skyrocketing from crowd noise during intense playoff hockey, but once the rust is gone after the round robins and qualifiers, we will still see what has become a tradition in rinks every spring, gut-wrenching, bone-crushing, and heart-stopping action. Not having a conclusion to what had been an excellent regular season from the Bruins' dominance and the emergence of young stars such as Cale Makar of the Avalanche would just be wrong. 2019-2020 will have a Stanley Cup Champion as worthy as any of the previous. It will be unique from circumstance, and memorable due to the time it will be lifted over a captain's head, but will be earned and fought for as much as the St. Louis Blues did last season. Hockey is on the horizon and at the end when one team is sipping from Lord Stanley's cup, hockey fans will feel the return of normalcy. Any quest for the cup will bring drama and this one from presumably late July to October will be absolutely enthralling no matter what. Boston and St. Louis are the favorites, but 22 others will give them the ultimate test for a few months coming soon to two host rinks. Hockey is not back, but boy does it feel good to have it close.