Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Thursday he can get his team prepared to play competitive hockey “two weeks, or much less,” when the NHL decides to resume its regular period.
The NHL “stopped ” its season March 9 because of the coronavirus, the afternoon after Colorado defeated the New York Rangers to increase to 42-20-8. The Avs, who had 12 remaining regular-season matches, are next in the Western Conference with 92 points, using a game in hand over leader St. Louis (94).
“Certainly a challenging time. Like everybody else, the more uncertainly of this situation is what is difficult to manage, demanding to plan to get ” Bednar said in a nationwide conference call. “In an ideal universe, continue using the season and we like to come in and perform the playoffs. That are the best-case situation for us. We re hopeful that may occur. ”
Bednar said he is in isolation with his wife and daughter at his Denver-area house. He’s spending much of his time viewing the Avs’ season — much like he would do in a normal offseason, also devising potential changes if the NHL plays well into the summer.
The coach said that he ’s convinced that they ’ re not working out, although his players are attempting to stay with whatever means that they have available.
“Guys are treating it. Nothing overly trying,” he said.
Three Avs are among eight NHL players that have tested positive for COVID-19. Bednar affirmed he hasn’t and just players have been advised to get tested.
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“It’s understanding our men are doing and better well,” Bednar said of his three players who have not been recognized. “It’s been some time and we re in isolation, until the end of April, at the earliest. ”
The Avs’ regular-season finale would have been April 4 from St. Louis at Pepsi Center. They would have begun the playoffs at home April 8 or 9.
The NHL has postponed the league’so combine, awards draft and show in June and asked all teams to locate stadium dates throughout the summer. Bednar is hopeful his team is now playing into the summermonths.
“I’m definitely hopeful that we can. This ’s me. I m still an optimist and I just think, watching what’s moving around Denver and the way people are after the recommendations, I think as a society we all ’re going to have the ability to overcome this,” he said.
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