![NHL fans clinging to hope of brief lockout | CBC Sports](https://i.cbc.ca/1.1512915.1379036515!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_780/940-lockout-fans-8col.jpg)
No one truly knows when professional sports will return. Heck, we don’t know when normal life will resume thanks to COVID-19.
Still, sports fans are longing for sports to come back into their lives. It appears we are in this battle for the long haul, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bet on when sports will come back.
![](https://bookmaker-info.com/en/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/image-18.png)
※ Current Odds Date & Time: March 30th, 7:30 P.M. (EST)
Online bookmaker SportsBetting has the next NHL game to be played June 1st or Sooner at +500.
![NHL lockout is over, fans return excited yet hurt - Elon News Network](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/enn/57e5646a-7b94-4420-868a-ddec07fc2dd9.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=1000)
Experts indicate that professional sports won’t return to normal activities until the summer. Focusing on the NHL, it’s expected that some sort of hockey will return in the summer, we just aren’t sure if it will be playoff hockey or regular-season puck.
There are a ton of scenarios being thrown around in the professional hockey world. Some believe that the league will go right into playoffs, while others think the regular season needs to conclude. With that being said, May/June looks like a longshot to see the NHL return.
SportsBetting has July 1st or sooner at -250 to see the next NHL game to be played. This is interesting because July/August seems like a reasonable expectation for the NHL to return. However, if the season were to return that late into the calendar year, it would almost certainly push back training camp for the 2020-2021 season.
![San Jose Sharks might have to play games in an empty arena next ...](https://images.dailyhive.com/20200310104714/sap-center-san-jose.jpeg)
As said, there are a ton of logistics in regards to the NHL returning. It’s a nightmare for executives. Many states and provinces in the United States and Canada are prohibiting large groups of people to gather as well, adding to the problems the NHL need to overcome.
What do you think? Could we see the NHL return before June or will we see hockey return in July/August?