Name: Circumstances won't diminish Stanley Cup
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Circumstances won't diminish Stanley Cup

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&nbsp;Assuming the NHL can pull off a plan to finish the paused 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup amid an ongoing pandemic, it’s a distinction that will live forever.The winners may become known as "COVID Cup" champions, as well as Stanley Cup champs, after enduring a 24-team return format that sprung to life because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The moniker stems largely from the new tournament format, which includes two NHL "hub" locations — reportedly Edmonton in the Western Conference and Toronto in the East — plus a qualifying round to determine the standard field of 16 teams.The winner will also receive a big, fat asterisk along with the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who likely will hand it over inside an arena devoid of fans.NHL players, however, aren’t thrilled with COVID hijacking the name of the oldest trophy awarded in North American sports."I hear a lot of things about there’s an asterisk on this season and all that. I have a hard time with that one," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said in late May, when the league officially unveiled its return-to-play format."A Stanley Cup championship is a Stanley Cup championship in my eyes, and nobody can take that away from you. You still have to go through four rounds to win."Actually, it would be five rounds for teams such as the Blue Jackets, who must first defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a five-game series just to qualify for the official Stanley Cup playoffs that will be conducted, as usual, among 16 teams, eight in each conference.From that perspective, the Cup might be even harder to win than usual — and that’s not even factoring in how COVID-19 might impact the outcome.What if there’s an outbreak in one or both of the "bubble" hubs? What if it costs a team thought to be a favorite a few star players and both goalies? What if a coach or coaches get infected? What if an infected player or coach becomes seriously ill?There is a lot more to digest with this season’s Cup chase than just a new nickname."It’ll be a great story to tell one day," said Foligno, a 13-year NHL veteran who doesn’t want to lose a single opportunity to win hockey’s ultimate prize. "If we can’t get it done the right way, I think there are smart enough people (running the league) to know when you have to cut your losses and try again for the fall. If there is a chance to play and it’s safe and it makes sense, that’s our job as players."It’s the job of the league and the NHL Players’ Association to hammer out a final plan and protocols to make competition as safe as possible for everyone involved. That includes giving players the option of not participating, which reportedly will be part of the league’s final return plan, similar to what Major League Baseball and the NBA has granted its players.A handful of NHL players might opt out, but hockey players have a long tradition of showing "toughness" in the face of injuries. Most likely will accept the risks and chase the Stanley Cup, and those who win aren’t going to accept it conditionally or bow to the growing skepticism about the pandemic’s impact on the legitimacy of the tournament.Whoever earns the Stanley Cup will hoist it above their heads and parade it around the rink, even if there’s not a soul in the stands to see it."People are asking, ‘Why are these guys doing this? Why are we having this?’ " said Rick Curran, a veteran player agent. "Well, I think it’s pretty simple."I think that from the league’s standpoint, it’s strictly the economics. But from the players’ standpoint? They want to win. They want to play. They want to play the game and they want to win."It is Curran’s view that the economic benefits are marginal for players in this return, in which teams and players will split the playoff revenue on a 50/50 basis."The reality is, every guy on that team that makes the playoffs is making the same dollar. Contracts don’t apply in the playoffs," he said. "There’s no guy making more on the team than any other, so they’re playing for a reason. They’re playing to win the Cup."It doesn’t matter what you call it, either.The final team standing this season will be awarded the same Stanley Cup given to previous teams, and their names will be etched into it just the same. That includes the 1995 New Jersey Devils and the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks, each of whom captured the Stanley Cup after only a 48-game regular season brought about by lockouts.Those etchings are all that players who take part in this year’s tournament will care about."Any year you play, you want a chance to win the Stanley Cup," said Foligno, who helped the Blue Jackets overcome a mountain of injuries just to be included in the 24-team field. "For me, it’s another opportunity. They don’t come around very often."When you get a chance to go to the dance, you want to make the most of it. If there is a reasonable and safe way to play the game, then why wouldn’t you want an opportunity to chase the ultimate dream?"Asterisk or not.bhedger@dispatch.com@BrianHedgerChoose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.

&nbsp;Assuming the NHL can pull off a plan to finish the paused 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup amid an ongoing pandemic, it’s a distinction that will live forever.The winners may become known as "COVID Cup" champions, as well as Stanley Cup champs, after enduring a 24-team return format that sprung to life because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The moniker stems largely from the new tournament format, which includes two NHL "hub" locations — reportedly Edmonton in the Western Conference and Toronto in the East — plus a qualifying round to determine the standard field of 16...

Circumstances won't diminish Stanley Cup

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