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Wednesday’s Dump & Chase: Something That Looks Like Hockey

The NHL announced a phased “Return to Play” system on Tuesday. We will have additional coverage for you here at OTF, so keep your eyes peeled for some previews and discussions.

2020 Return to Play and Playoffs

Main Takeaways From the NHL’s Return to Play Plan – On the Forecheck
Nick gives us a quick overview of the NHL’s Return to Play Plan and details some specifics that affect the Predators.

NHL plans to return with 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL announced its Return to Play Plan on Tuesday with the Stanley Cup Playoffs that will include 24 teams. Nashville will face Arizona in a best-of-5 playoff series.

2020 NHL Draft Lottery procedure
If Nashville loses to the Coyotes in the play-in series, they would be eligible for the Draft Lottery. The Draft Lottery rules, however, are about as clear as mud.

NHLers face new normal as league prepares to ramp up toward return to play – Sportsnet.ca
Here’s the bottom line: teams (and the League) should be returning to play ONLY IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

Isolating away from family a ‘hot topic’ as NHL plots return – Sportsnet.ca
I feel like teams should allow players to opt out of game play if they wish. No punishment should be levied on players who aren’t comfortable with quarantining, hub cities, and distance from families.

Return to Play: Western Conference
Here’s your Western Conference qualifying matchups.

Nashville vs. Arizona. (heavy breathing)

Review of teams that didn’t qualify for playoffs
So…what do these players do for the next several months? I’d assume they can resume skating privately or at their facilities, too. That’s a LONG offseason, y’all. I’d be going crazy.

Return to Play: Eastern Conference
Man, I’m going to be tuning into some Montreal vs. Pittsburgh a BUNCH when the NHL returns.

How will teammates react if someone isn’t comfortable playing under these circumstances? – Video – TSN
This is a big question…a BIG question. What do OTF readers think here? Leave thoughts below.

Minnesota Wild G Devan Dubnyk: ‘A long way to go’ on NHL return – TSN.ca
I agree with the very tall Devan Dubnyk here…there’s a lot of questions that remain.

Around the League

Arizona Coyotes should be ambitious in free agency this year – Five For Howling
Our pals at Five For Howling have some thoughts on free agency (whenever that might be) and the Coyotes.

Five solutions for deciding who wins your 2019-20 fantasy pool – TheHockeyNews
My fantasy team was middling this season. How was yours?

It didn’t help that Gabriel Landeskog, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Mikko Rantanen were all hurt at varying points in the season.

Scouting Nightmares: inside the scariest road trips, craziest prospect interviews and more – TheHockeyNews
I maintain that being a NHL scout would be a dream job.

Hellebuyck deserves Hart consideration, Jets teammate Lowry says: report
While Hellebuyck is definitely a Vezina front-runner, could he also be a Hart Trophy candidate?

Kim Pegula to AP: Botterill returning as Sabres’ GM – TSN.ca
What the heck else is Buffalo supposed to do? You have to have some sort of consistency to build on.

Searching for the NHL version of Jordan and Pippen – TSN.ca
American hockey icons? Let the debate begin. (Travis Yost is looking at all nationalities, but the “greatest American player” debate could be fun.)