The sports world is slowly, and perhaps, surely at the highest of levels, is returning to action, but that doesn't mean the players think it's in the best decision for the respective leagues.
After MLBers Blake Snell and Bryce Harper made some interesting and forward-thinking remarks about how the MLB should resume baseball activities, Washington Capitals defenceman Radko Gudas spoke out against the NHL season resuming up again.
Courtesy of Russian Machine Never Breaks which translated Gudas' words from Czech publication, CT Sport, the former Flyer and Lightning defenceman, who hails from the Czech Republic, says the league should just flat out cancel the rest of the season.
Radko Gudas believes NHL should cancel rest of 2019-20 season, thinks there’s "no chance" Capitals will re-sign him https://t.co/2PHtbod3TJ
— RMNB (@russianmachine) May 15, 2020
“If we kept playing, our sport would be swimming against the current a bit,” he said. “Money is money; it’s what currently makes the world go around. It’s a bit sad they are willing to risk the health of so many players for money.
“I think we shouldn’t play when the whole world is canceling seasons,” said Gudas, who was quoted at a golf charity event in his native country.
“Hockey would be the only team sport trying to power through it like this. They won’t let us go to the Olympics so we won’t get injured, but they want to keep the NHL season running in these times. If we kept playing, our sport would be swimming against the current a bit.
“Money is money, it’s what currently makes the world go round,” Gudas added. “It’s a bit sad that they are willing to risk the health of so many players for money.”
Earlier this weekend, the NHL reportedly made progress on a tournament-style proposal that would see 24 teams play in the post-season.
Numerous leagues such as the ECHL, AHL and several European league have cancelled the remainder of their respective seasons, while some USports teams have already shut down their hockey programs for next year.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last week that cancelling the remainder of the season was “not something I’m even contemplating.”
Gudas spoke further on the issue, saying he's against the idea of having several NHL teams stay and play in the same hub cities, a solution that's been rampant since the start of the pandemic.
“I don’t think players would manage to stay holed up in a hotel room the whole summer,” Gudas said. “That’s a step into one’s personal freedom. You can focus on yourself and your family in the summer. Even though everyone spent the last two, three months home, I still think staying in some hotel room all summer is just the right way to end up with depression.”
“If one guy is infected, basically the whole league has it in a week, given how they are planning to have everyone play against everyone,” he said. “One stupid stumble and you can cancel it all again.”
The 29-year-old shutdown defenceman is in the final year of his contract with the Capitals and was very blunt about his future in Washington after notching 15 points (2 goals, 13 assists) in 63 games this season.
“I think there’s no chance [of re-signing with Washington],” Gudas said. “They are grappling with the salary cap. They have young players who will play under contracts more feasible for [the organization]. I think a lot of the guys with contracts about to expire will leave Washington.”
A shockingly good take from Radko Gudas, who is concerned with player safety, both physical and mental.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) May 15, 2020
"Even though everyone spent the last two, three months home, I still think staying in some hotel room all summer is just the right way to end up with depression.”
Yup. https://t.co/EotZuwhXzz