from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun,

There are so many moving parts that even in the preliminary stage, where the NHL is basically just thinking out loud, the quest for Stanley Cup playoffs seems impossibly ambitious.

It would be great if they can pull it off. Fans who have been locked in their houses for weeks, with no end in sight, need something to cheer for. If they can tune in to post-season hockey on TV every night, even with nobody in the stands to create any atmosphere, you could still hook the cable straight into their veins.

But making it happen will be like getting a herd of cats to build a house of cards. Bringing players back from Europe, finding willing and logistically feasible locations to be division hosts, flying in hundreds of players and support staff (many from existing hot spots), keeping them sequestered for two months, managing TV production needs, and contingency plans when players start testing positive are only a few of the balls the league has to keep in the air.

It’s a big long shot gamble when you consider that shutting down again after a re-start would be far worse than not starting up at all.

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