By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators won’t get to open the 2020-21 NHL season in Europe. The NHL announced last Friday that proposed exhibition and regular season games in Europe were being cancelled due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The Predators were going to be part of the league’s Global Series. They had exhibition games set in Switzerland. Then they were scheduled to begin regular season play against the Boston Bruins in Prague, Czech Republic. The league made a joint statement with the players association announcing the decision Friday..
“The NHLPA and the NHL remain committed to maintaining and growing our international presence. We hope that our fans overseas understand the need to postpone the 2020 games, but we look forward to being back with them in 2021.” “We are disappointed by the postponement of the NHL Global Series but fully support the decision and appreciate all the thought and consideration invested in the postponement’s handling,” Predators president and CEO Sean Henry told USA Today Network/Tennessee. “At the appropriate time we look forward to playing in front of Europe’s passionate fan base.”
There has still been no decision regarding the suspended 2019-20 season. The NHL stopped its season March 12. League officials insist that they still want to have some semblance of a regular year and also have the playoffs and crown a Stanley Cup champion. But while various plans have been floated and suggested, as of press time none had been implemented.
