The NHL is coming back! Just ask #99

When the greatest hockey player to ever play the game speaks, we all listen. Especially, when there's a current work stoppage and every hockey fan across the globe is wishing and waiting for the NHL to return. Wayne Gretzky has a feeling hockey is coming back and it's the type of positive vibes we were looking for today.

The NHL continues to sift through a variety of options for finishing this season. From cutting the regular season down, to playoff tournament brackets, to even have one neutral site host all of the games, at this point, anything is on the table.

The Great One spoke to the AP on Sunday, and was quoted providing positive fuel to all the NHL fans who are still optimistic about this season:

I really believe somehow, someway, that the leadership in this country and in Canada, that we're going to figure this out. And I really believe that we'll see hockey and some sort of other sports in June, July and August, albeit in a different way, but I really see it coming to fruition. I think it's going to happen.

While Gretzky has been busy playing video games with Alex Ovechkin, he's always and forever will be linked to the masses of the NHL. Gretzky is still well informed and as connected as ever to the league's leadership group. If he's optimistic, we all should be.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm too optimistic, I think I'm not. I hope that that's a good sign for everyone that we're moving on in life, in business, in sports. I really see the next couple months something good happening.