Greg Wyshynski of ESPN,

"I'm not buying, in any way, that we won't be able to eat in restaurants before a game at Capital One Arena and all be together," he said recently, during a web chat with The Economic Club of Washington. "It's just a matter of what time frame that has to happen in."

Until it happens, Leonsis suggested an alternative means for fans who aren't in the arena to experience the game: "Maybe it's through virtual reality."

Virtual reality and the NHL are like that couple that talks about engagement for a decade but never gets around to ring shopping. I remember back in 2015 when the league tested a 360-degree virtual reality experience at its Stadium Series game between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings at Levi's Stadium. Cameras were mounted on the glass, filming HD images. The results were encouraging, providing a panoramic view of some recorded on-ice action. One test even allowed fans to go from watching a play in the stands to floating above the goalie and the goal line. It was pretty cool.

The expectations coming out of that experiment were nothing short of VR eventually changing the way fans watch the game, perhaps even solving the most vexing riddle for the NHL on television: How to transfer the unparalleled joys of watching hockey in an arena to someone's rec room. With VR, it's not only about capturing the speed and scope of live hockey, but also recreating that personal experience for the fan.

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