If NHL Does Have A Playoffs, How Legitimate Is A Champion?

In a sports world surrounded by question marks, the NHL is looking for answers. The NHL came to a standstill with 189 total games remaining in their season. There have been plenty of ideas tossed around to get things back up and running, and they seem to be closing in on a final decision.
The most recent plan includes a 24-team playoff to start as soon as the league resumes play. Players, owners, and coaches have all voiced their ideas that span anywhere from canceling the rest of the season to a 31-team tournament pitched by veteran New Jersey defenseman P.K. Subban.
Right now, the players, like us fans, are left waiting on the edge of their seats for any news surrounding the rest of the season. Some European players remain at home while others have already made their way back to North America in hopes of rejoining their teams soon for practice.
If the season does resume, under any circumstance, it seems like some areas may host more games while others remain on lockdown. States such as Florida have voiced interest in hosting more games and opening up soon while others have stood firm in their lockdown.
A True Champ?
One of the biggest question marks surrounding the remainder of the season is the legitimacy of the Stanley Cup champion this year, assuming we have one. We are all so eager to have hockey and sports back in general that we forget what this means for the teams this year.
No matter who wins, there will be an argument from other teams, and fans that there is an asterisk on their championship. Injuries and other uncertainties happen every season, but with this huge gap in the season and the possibility of modified playoffs, it could make a huge difference in who could walk away with the Cup at the end.
When the season resumes, in any circumstances, we will all be rooting for our teams, and one of two things may happen. Your team will lose, and the season will end in a loss. Or your team will go all the way and FINALLY, you get to see your team hoist the Cup and celebrate, only to have all the success called into question for the rest of hockey history.
The good news in all this is that it seems like we are closing in on a solution and that we may end up getting to watch playoff hockey in 2020 when it’s all said and done. Regardless of the possible asterisk on the winner’s name, I would give anything to watch actual live hockey again, and that day could be coming very soon.