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It's "quite likely" the American Hockey League will cancel its season because of the coronavirus pandemic, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Monday.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to discuss the league's plans.
The AHL wouldn't confirm or deny the report, stating there is "nothing imminent."
The league suspended its season March 12, the same day the NHL did.
The Chicago Blackhawks made a stunning front-office decision Monday, releasing John McDonough from his role as president and CEO, the organization announced.
McDonough was with the club for 13 years, including three Stanley Cups. He was originally hired as president before CEO was added to his title in 2011.
"Thirteen years ago, I recruited John to the Blackhawks because of his leadership, direction, and vision," Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said. "John brought all of that to the table and more. His contributions went well beyond leading the team to three Stanley Cup championships. He rebuilt the front office and helped guide the organization toward a winning vision."
Wirtz added, "As difficult as this is, we believe it was the right decision for the future of the organization and its fans."
In March, Wirtz said that McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and head coach Jeremy Colliton would all return next season.
Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon knows fans are essential to sports and emphasized the importance of their presence in the stands.
"I think the start of next season, everybody has to be careful with (it) because I think you need fans," Dundon told 99.9 The Fan in Raleigh, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "And so if it means pushing back the start of the season for any sport, then they should consider that, because what's the point of having sports if you don't have fans, right? They wouldn't exist.
"They'd be called the YMCA."
The NHL's 2019-20 season has been on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 12. Preliminary talks are ongoing about a potential return to the ice, but chances are slim that fans will be able to attend for at least the remainder of the season.
With only a handful of regular-season games and the playoffs left to complete the 2019-20 season, Dundon thinks the 2020-21 campaign should be delayed as long as possible if fans can't be in attendance.
"I would think it's a pretty good idea to push it back as long as you need to, to make sure you can have your buildings occupied," Dundon added. "Whether that's 100% or 50%, I have no idea. (If) it's zero, I don't know why anyone would want to start a new league season with no fans, but my vote doesn't count for much."
Talks between the NHL and NHLPA have reportedly intensified regarding the exploration of using two-to-four hub cities to act as hosts to play out the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin and his wife, Anna, made a monetary donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Pittsburgh to help the charity purchase supplies, food, and games, the team announced Monday.
The organization, which currently houses 20 families with hospitalized children, had a wish list of various pantry items. Malkin's donation ensured that everything on the list could be purchased and families can continue to receive hot meals.
The Ronald McDonald House of Pittsburgh had a wish list for pantry items.
Thanks to @emalkin71geno and his wife, Anna, the organization got everything on their list (and some board games too!)
"We know it is hard for everyone right now, but we couldn't imagine having a child hospitalized during this uncertain time," Malkin said. "While we are comfortable in our own homes, others are relying on the generosity of others, like the Ronald McDonald House, to open their doors."
The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation also contributed by supplying promotional items to the house such as blankets and bobbleheads for the children.
"We are incredibly grateful for the support that Evgeni Malkin has extended to our charity," Ronald McDonald House executive director Eleanor Reigel said. "His generosity ensures that we can continue to provide our families with warm meals, essential household pantry items, and a supportive environment to call home during this uncertain time."
How much do you know about some of the greatest teams in sports history?
With "The Last Dance" celebrating the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s, take the quiz below to see how your knowledge of the best pro squads of all time stacks up against the competition.
"I know I didn't play the last two years, but I tried. I did. I wish I could have gone out in a bit of a different way," Ward wrote. "But, you know, just thinking about it all - all 726 games - I realized something. 'Who am I to wish for any more time?' I got what I wanted. I'm one of the lucky ones."
The 39-year-old wasn't selected in the 1999 draft, but he later signed a contract with the ECHL's Florida Everblades in 2005 and eventually worked his way through the AHL to the NHL.
"I just wanted a chance, a shot. I didn't have, relatively, a whole lot of skills," Ward wrote. "I wasn't a smooth skater. I wasn’t a fighter or a grinder really. I was just me, Joel. What I did have, though, was some hockey IQ because I watched so much hockey growing up."
Ward would go on to amass 133 goals and 171 assists during his career. He also appeared in 83 playoff games, racking up an impressive 22 goals and 30 assists in those contests.
With ESPN's "The Last Dance" whetting the appetite of folks desperate for any sort of sports content, theScore editors have joined forces to look back at some of the most captivating narratives that deserve similar treatment to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
Today, we're looking at five hockey documentaries we'd love to see:
'Bad Blood'
No NHL teams enjoyed more success in the late 1990s than the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings. From '96 to '98, the two Western Conference powerhouses combined for three Stanley Cup victories and a pair of Presidents' Trophies. Both clubs were loaded with future Hall of Famers, and each franchise produced moments that have been etched in hockey lore.
Above all else, they absolutely hated each other, and a behind-the-scenes look at that animosity would be appointment viewing for all hockey fans. Following the lead of "The Last Dance," multiple episodes could be used to tell the whole story of how the teams were built, the playoff battles, the championships, the hit on Kris Draper, and of course, the brawls.
The rivalry has been discussed, written about, and YouTubed at length, but it's never gotten the deep dive it deserves. Just think of the icons who could help tell the story: Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Sergei Fedorov, Patrick Roy, Claude Lemieux, Scotty Bowman. The list goes on.
'Thrash and Burn'
Scott Cunningham / National Hockey League / Getty
Nearly two decades after the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary in 1980, the league looked to revive hockey in Georgia's capital by granting the city another franchise. On June 25, 1997, the Atlanta Thrashers were born.
This documentary would chronicle the club's transient history from the moment the city landed a team up until its relocation following the 2010-11 campaign. The film would take viewers through the 1999 NHL Draft and the club's subsequent 14-win inaugural season, highlight the legacy and eventual exit of franchise talent Ilya Kovalchuk, reflect on the club's competitive peak in the mid-2000s, and uncover exactly what went wrong to cause the franchise to fizzle out.
With insight from the club's most prominent figures, including 1999 first-overall pick Patrik Stefan, star forwards Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, and Ray Ferraro, as well as general manager and head coach Don Waddell, the film would reveal stories and events that have never before been shared. The Thrashers may not have been around for long, but they'll forever be remembered by a generation of hockey fans.
'Keeping John Scott Out'
Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty
There was a supposedly feature film in the works three years ago about John Scott's journey from enforcer to fan punch line to league-office pariah to folk hero. Even if it ultimately gets made, a Hollywood version surely wouldn't give the most accurate account of what really transpired.
A documentary featuring candor from Colin Campbell and those who held key positions with the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens at the time - as well as Scott himself, of course - would be intriguing.
It's well-known that the NHL didn't want Scott - a career grinder - to play in the All-Star Game after being voted in by fans as a joke in 2016. But how much pressure did the league exert on him to try to convince him to drop out? The Coyotes traded the then-AHLer to the Canadiens, effectively banishing him to Newfoundland in a curious move shortly before the All-Star festivities. What role did Arizona's brass play in all this? These questions have been left unanswered for years, and it would be great to see them explained now that some time has passed.
'My Last Game in Montreal'
B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / Getty
Patrick Roy's tenure with the Canadiens came to an infamous, abrupt end. In December 1995, Roy took the ice for the last time in a Habs sweater. After allowing nine goals at home and having the crowd sarcastically jeer him for stopping easy pucks, Roy stormed off the ice when he was eventually pulled and told Canadiens president Ronald Corey, "It's my last game in Montreal." He was traded to the Avalanche four days later.
A full-blown, behind-the-scenes look at the entire ordeal would be fascinating, with insight from various people involved. The documentary could also explore the tensions between Roy and his new coach, Mario Tremblay, throughout the season, as seen through the media and his teammates. Then-Canadiens GM Rejean Houle - who was just over a month into his tenure in the role - was heavily criticized for dealing Roy and receiving such a small return.
Hearing the different viewpoints would help paint a clearer picture of that fateful day. The aftermath has some juice to it as well, as Roy ultimately helped the Avalanche win a pair of championships, while the Canadiens haven't managed to claim one since his departure.
'Sid and Ovi'
Mitchell Layton / National Hockey League / Getty
The chapters in the rivalry of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are still being written, but the story would make for a compelling documentary once both careers are finished. While they've been the two faces of the NHL's post-lockout era, they couldn't be more different - both on and off the ice.
On one hand, we have Crosby: a reserved personality, a hockey nerd, and one of the best two-way centers of all time. On the other, we have Ovechkin: outgoing, emotional, exciting, and the best goal pure goal-scorer ever. The film would, of course, dive into the history between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. They've been the two best teams in the Eastern Conference in the post-lockout era, meeting in the playoffs four times since Crosby and Ovechkin came into the league.
Each time they've met in the postseason, the victor went on to win the Stanley Cup, with Crosby or Ovechkin winning the Conn Smythe Trophy three times. The Penguins got the upper hand in their first meeting in 2009 - which included a game that featured dueling hat tricks between the two future Hall of Famers - as well as 2016 and 2017 before the Capitals finally slew the dragon in 2018. Hockey fans can only hope there's more to come.
