Only production staff for television and radio broadcasts are expected to be allowed inside the two hub-city bubbles if the NHL resumes play, which means play-by-play commentators and color analysts will likely work remotely.
"It's different," vice president of Sportsnet and NHL Production Rob Corte told CBC's Jim Morris. "A lot of the energy they draw is from within a building and the crowd. When you're in an arena you see everything. There's going to be things that will be missed or not seen just because it's not available to their eyesight."
Corte added that one feed will likely be produced for each game and supplied to all NHL rights-holders. Sportsnet will have its commentators watch games on monitors in Toronto, where a score bug and graphics will be added.
Many media-related details have yet to be finalized, though.
"Part of the challenge is, there's been so many different ideas and potential ways to do this," Corte said. "We've been having so many discussions, and when you think you're moving in a certain direction, then about 10 more questions come up that actually disqualify everything you have been thinking before.
Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden - who's also an author, a lawyer, and, formerly, a politician - joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:
His thoughts on COVID-19, NHL's return-to-play plan
Why Scotty Bowman has lived a hockey life like no other
Getting into Bowman's mind for Dryden's 2019 book, "Scotty"
Breaking down the case for penalizing all hits to the head
Reaction to his thought-provoking book, "Game Change"
With the abundance of talent in today's game, there's no shortage of highlight-reel goals. Players continue to get more creative, finding new ways to bring fans out of their seats.
Now that the 2019-20 regular season is officially behind us, let's look back at the five best goals of the campaign.
5. Blake Coleman's one-handed wonder
Coleman's outstanding individual effort is a perfect example of why you should never give up on a play.
The Devils' crafty winger outworks Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov before catching an unsuspecting Laurent Brossoit deep in his net with a one-handed shovel shot while falling to the ice.
4. Sonny Milano torches Stars
Milano netted only seven goals in 2019-20, but his dazzling marker against the Dallas Stars was one of the filthiest of the season.
The winger walks around a helpless Roope Hintz - a forward who's completely exposed while covering for a defenseman - before going between his legs at high speed with two Stars on his tail. The degree of difficulty here is simply off the charts.
3. Matthew Tkachuk beats the buzzer in style
The timeliness and spontaneity of Tkachuk's incredible last-ditch effort gives him a slight edge over Milano in the between-the-legs-trickery department.
Not only does Tkachuk have the presence of mind to change his shot angle while flying through the slot at full speed, but he places the puck perfectly upstairs with only 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime. The 22-year-old was remarkably clutch that night, as Tkachuk also tied the game in the final minute of regulation.
2. Andrei Svechnikov does it again
Svechnikov's encore after becoming the first player to pull off "The Michigan" in an NHL game was an even better lacrosse-style tally.
Unlike the first time he executed the move, Svechnikov was in motion against the Jets. His ability to scoop the puck while traveling around the net at a high speed and tuck it past the 6-foot-4 Connor Hellebuyck took the awe-inspiring maneuver to another level.
1. McDavid leaves Rielly in the dust
McDavid's first goal in Toronto was one of his finest yet. Burning a player one-on-one in the fashion McDavid did shouldn't be possible at the highest level of hockey.
The Oilers captain hesitates just slightly before turning on the jets, completely duping Morgan Rielly prior to going top shelf for the finish. Being able to shift gears in a split second and put a skilled defenseman like Rielly on his heels is one of many reasons McDavid is the world's top talent.
Honorable mention: Pekka Rinne's 200-foot prayer
Scoring into an empty net is rarely a memorable feat. Unless you're a goalie, of course.
With the Predators up two goals late in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks, Rinne found some space to shoot his shot. The Finnish puck-stopper fired a perfect 200-foot strike to become the first netminder since 2013-14 to score an NHL goal.
"Rocky I, II, III, V" and "Rocky Balboa" (1976, 1979, 1982, 1990, 2006)
Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), the short-tempered manager of Rocky Balboa, is a former boxer who finally gets a shot at a world title when Apollo Creed issues a surprising challenge to the "Italian Stallion." Mickey's relationship with Rocky is strained at first but blossoms into a father-son-like connection as the pair undergo countless hours of sweaty training sessions punctuated by lines from the manager such as, "You're gonna eat lightning, you're gonna crap thunder."
49. Lou Brown
"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)
James Gammon plays the role of Cleveland Indians manager Brown, a surly skipper who leaves his job as a tire salesman to become the leader of a team meant to go nowhere. Throughout his tenure as Indians bench boss, Brown does a wonderful job of bonding his club through the use of hilarious props - including stripping down a cardboard cutout of mischievous owner Rachel Phelps - to get his team to win games.
48. Jess Bhamra
"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002)
Mirroring the film industry as a whole, the sports film canon hasn't featured a ton of diversity in the types of stories it's told. However, Jess (Parminder Nagra) is a great reminder that the love of the game can transcend race, gender, and religion. As the protagonist of "Bend It Like Beckham," Jess nimbly navigates both a Sikh community steeped in familial traditions and the world of amateur English football.
47. Carl Spackler
"Caddyshack" (1980)
Private golf clubs are known to be pristine, well-mannered, and stodgy. Groundskeeper Spackler (Bill Murray), on the other hand ... not so much. Between living in a dilapidated shack on the premises and attempting to eliminate the club's gopher problem with explosives, it's fair to wonder if Carl creates more trouble than he's worth.
46. Ernie McCracken
"Kingpin" (1996)
Back-to-back roles from Murray hit our rankings, with the latter being his portrayal of womanizing bowling veteran McCracken in "Kingpin." After losing to Roy Munson at the 1979 Odor-Eaters championship, McCracken shows a villainous side by setting his rival up in a game during which he loses his prized bowling hand. While "Big Ern" offers plenty of gut-busting comedy, nothing is funnier than his legendary comb-over.
45. White Goodman
"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004)
There's nothing subtle about Goodman (Ben Stiller). The egomaniacal leader of the Globo Gym Purple Cobras struts around in leather and shoulder pads like "Macho Man" Randy Savage with a Napoleon complex. Goodman's over-the-top nature is made even funnier in comparison to everyman Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn).
44. Teddy KGB
"Rounders" (1998)
Teddy KGB (John Malkovich) is an underground poker-playing legend and antagonist to Matt Damon's character in Rounders. It may be hard to read the tells of the Russian mobster throughout his few appearances in the film, but when he's on screen, it's easy to fall in love with his card-playing caginess and undying love for Oreo cookies.
43. Harry Doyle
"Major League" (1989), "Major League II" (1994), and "Major League: Back to the Minors" (1998)
Real-life sportscaster and former player Bob Uecker is wise-cracking Indians announcer Doyle in the "Major League" flicks. Uecker's comedy throughout the films is unmatched as he constantly tries to paint a brighter picture of a team and its most embarrassing moments.
42. Isis
"Bring It On" (2000)
Don't be fooled by its bubbly appearance, "Bring It On" offers a nuanced - and evergreen - look at how privileged white performers appropriate and profit off the art and culture of Black creators. Isis (Gabrielle Union) is initially painted as an aggressor when, in reality, it's her predominantly Black and Latinx cheer squad whose routines have been unknowingly pilfered by Torrance's (Kirsten Dunst) suburban San Diego team.
41. Tony D'Amato
"Any Given Sunday" (1999)
Warning: Video contains coarse language.
It doesn't get much better than a legendary actor chewing the scenery as a head coach who sees football as a microcosm for the world at large. As Coach D'Amato, Al Pacino's "Inches" monologue has stood the test of time as one of the truly great inspirational pep talks in movie history.
The NHL draft lottery was flipped upside down when a placeholder team won the right to the first overall pick. Every team that's eliminated from the upcoming play-in round will now own an equal 12.5% chance at drafting QMJHL phenom Alexis Lafreniere.
Let's take a look at what each Western Conference team stands to gain should it win the unprecedented draft lottery.
Imagine the frenzy the hockey world would go into if the Oilers won yet another draft lottery? The organization has already selected first overall four times this decade. A fifth would be downright absurd, and frankly, completely unfair.
Even though fans would be accusing the league of rigging the lottery, the on-ice product would be highly entertaining with Lafreniere on a line with McDavid. Or how about Leon Draisaitl?
Edmonton’s power play was already historically good this season. How much better could it be with Lafreniere in the mix? If the Oilers weren’t already producing must-watch TV, they would be after adding yet another highly touted prospect.
(No. 6) Nashville Predators
John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 record: 35-26-8 (.565) Last No. 1 pick: N/A
If the Predators enter the lottery for Lafreniere, Nashville could venture into uncharted territory.
Over the club's 21 seasons, the Preds have never truly drafted and developed a superstar forward. They've been the standard-bearers of finding defensive gems, but have never produced a home-grown offensive superstar. Filip Forsberg's rise is the closest they've come, but the Predators acquired him through a trade, and he's still never topped 70 single-season points.
Drafting Lafreniere would also make the Preds' offense younger, as the majority of Nashville's current forwards are close to 30 years old.
(No. 7) Vancouver Canucks
Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 record: 36-27-6 (.565) Last No. 1 pick: N/A
Elias Pettersson is the reigning Calder Trophy winner, and Quinn Hughes is arguably the favorite for this year's rookie of the year honors. Adding Lafreniere would give the Canucks a legitimate chance at a Calder Trophy three-peat - a feat that hasn't been accomplished since the Original Six era when the Toronto Maple Leafs did it from 1942-43 to 1944-45. Calling the trio "The Calder Core" or "The Calder Club" would have a pretty good ring to it.
Note: The Canucks traded their 2020 first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who then flipped it to the New Jersey Devils. Vancouver will keep the pick and surrender a 2021 first-rounder instead if they miss the playoffs.
(No. 8) Calgary Flames
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
2019-20 record: 36-27-7 Last No. 1 pick: N/A
The Flames have been in the market for additional scorers for a while, and adding Lafreneire would be a dream scenario after the club took a major step backward offensively this past season.
As enticing as it would be to slot Lafreniere into a forward corps alongside Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Elias Lindholm, and Sean Monahan, the arrival of the QMJHL stud would create lineup headaches. Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Lafreniere all play the left side, but rearranging some wingers is a small price to pay while adding the world's top prospect.
(No. 9) Winnipeg Jets
Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 record: 37-28-6 (.563) Last No. 1 pick: N/A
The Jets have technically picked first overall before. Before moving to Winnipeg in 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers picked first overall twice, nabbing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2001, and Patrik Stefan in 1999. The original Jets also picked first overall once, drafting Dale Hawerchuk in 1981 before eventually relocating to Phoenix. The Jets 2.0 haven't been given the honor yet.
Lafreniere joining the Jets would create a bit of a logjam on the wings, with Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers already taking up top-six spots. There are a few ways Winnipeg getting the No. 1 pick could unfold:
The Jets draft for positional need and take center Quinton Byfield first overall to round out their top six.
Wheeler moves to center on a full-time basis, as he did for parts of the 2019-20 season.
The Jets draft Lafreniere, then trade Connor, Laine, or Ehlers for a defenseman or a center (Wheeler's contract features a no-movement clause).
The first scenario seems highly unlikely since Lafreniere is the consensus best player in the draft, and the second is less than ideal, leaving No. 3 as the most logical option. The Jets could fetch a great return for any of the three players, and there's still a gaping hole on their blue line after losing Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot over the past year.
(No. 10) Minnesota Wild
Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 record: 35-27-7 (.558) Last No. 1 pick: N/A
Drafting Lafreniere would finally give the Wild something to build around. Minnesota is in the early stages of the Bill Guerin regime, and the team has been stuck between a full-scale rebuild or retooling on the fly for years.
After a spell of mediocrity, the Wild can't look back on playoff success, and they also still didn't get lottery picks to help build toward a better future. Lafreniere would instantly bring youthful energy to a veteran roster and be the centerpiece of whatever path Guerin has laid out for the franchise, which is in dire need of something to get excited about.
(No. 11) Arizona Coyotes
Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty
2019-20 record: 33-29-8 (.529) Last No. 1 pick: N/A
Taylor Hall has played just five career playoff games. As a pending UFA, he probably wants to sign with a winning team. Would adding Lafreniere help convince Hall to stay in the desert? Maybe not, but Lafreniere being in the fold would give a team that defends exceptionally well but struggles to score a much-needed offensive dynamo.
Note: The Coyotes traded their 2020 first-round pick to the Devils, but it's top-three protected.
(No. 12) Chicago Blackhawks
Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
2019-20 record: 32-30-8 Last No. 1 pick: Patrick Kane (2007)
The online outrage if the Blackhawks win the Lafreniere lottery following their 2010s dynasty would be intense. It's hard to imagine a better run of good fortune for a franchise than three Stanley Cups in six seasons, with a No. 1 pick coming just five years later. But there's a distinct possibility that happens for Chicago, a team heavily overmatched in its play-in series versus the Oilers.
Many fans would prefer to see Lafreniere land anywhere but the Windy City. But objectively, the youngster suiting up in an Original Six market and forming the next version of the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane duo with fellow lottery choice Kirby Dach is something we can get behind.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft is up for grabs, but Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland has his sights completely set on winning in the playoffs.
"I don't think anybody's thinking of the No. 1 selection now," Holland said, according to the Edmonton Sun's Jim Matheson. "The eight losers will readjust after (the play-in). I want our team to make some noise, go on a playoff run."
Friday's draft lottery awarded the No. 1 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft to a placeholder team. The eight clubs that lose in the play-in round of the league's 24-team postseason will all have a 12.5% chance at securing the top pick in a second lottery at a later date.
The Oilers - who finished the abbreviated 2019-20 regular season in second place in the Pacific Division - are set to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the best-of-five play-in round.
"Anytime you're playing hockey, you're playing to win … we want the Edmonton Oilers to be the last team standing, and if not, we want the playoff experience as far as we go," Holland said. "End of the day, only one play-in loser gets the No. 1 pick, the others are picking later.
"I look at this tournament as being relatively wide-open. Regular season ended about four months ago if we start in August. If a play-in team wins the Stanley Cup, they will have to have won five series - even more difficult than usual. But everybody's dream is to have your name on the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers have had their fair share of top picks over the last several years. They held the No. 1 selection in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.
