Canucks: Fans should be excited about possible Canadian division
As the NHL inches closer to a return to play in 2021, an All-Canadian division is looking like it’ll become a reality for the Vancouver Canucks.
The NHL is making positive steps in the right direction this week as the league inches closer to a return to hockey. There is plenty of work to be done between now and the Vancouver Canucks playing actual games, but the latest news reveals that there are hopes of having a 56-game regular season with a targeted start date of January 15th.
It’s no secret that the pandemic hasn’t made it easy for major sports leagues to return to play. The NFL, MLB and NBA have all found a way to make it possible, however, for the National Hockey League, preparing a full season during the pandemic has been a lot easier said than done. The main difference being that the NHL operates between two bordering countries.
Canada has a firm 14-day quarantine procedure in place for anyone travelling into the country and that’s made constructing a return-to-play plan for the NHL a bit of a nightmare. For a while now, the idea of an All-Canadian division has been floating around. With Canada unlikely to reopen the border anytime soon, it’s beginning to look a lot more like a reality. For Canadians, this should be very exciting!
The pandemic has pulverized the NHL with unfortunate circumstances, but in such a dark and gloomy time for Canadians, this should be looked at as a big win in a terrible situation. For the first time in history, Hockey Night in Canada will become “Hockey Year in Canada”. Nothing but classic Canadian teams going head-to-head each and every night. What’s not to love about that?
Instead of watching the Canucks take on Eastern Conference Canadian teams just twice a year, Canucks fans are looking at getting an opportunity to watch their favourite team battle each other Canadian rival at least seven or eight times. It’ll be like having their own playoff series versus each and every team in Canada!
Just think of the entertaining storylines! Who wouldn’t want to see an 8-game scrap featuring the Canucks and Calgary Flames? That rivalry is bound to be rekindled after the 2020 offseason saw four Canucks jump ship. What about seven contests pitted against the Toronto Maple Leafs? It’s mouth-watering just thinking about seven games of Elias Pettersson and Auston Matthews trading blows back and forth. Come on, the Canadian division is something to be excited about.
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Of course, as of right now it’s all rumours and speculation, but if you think about it, it’s becoming more and more likely. The Canuck Way is all for it! Bring on the Canadian division! It could turn out to be the best thing for hockey! What do you think Canucks Nation?