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What’s next for the NHL after suspending the 2019-20 season?

By Brad Berreman

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: The ice and spectator seating is empty prior to the Detroit Red Wings playing against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Yesterday, the NBA suspended their season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). The NHL said per a release, that the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs were advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: The ice and spectator seating is empty prior to the Detroit Red Wings playing against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Yesterday, the NBA suspended their season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). The NHL said per a release, that the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs were advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The NHL has joined all other sports leagues in reacting to the coronavirus outbreak, but what’s next for the league after suspending the 2019-20 season?

The NBA’s decision on Wednesday night to suspend its season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus was the end point to a wild hour or so in the world at-large. Sports leagues around the world are canceling games and events, and on Thursday the NHL announced it will suspend its season too.

“The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures,” the league said in a statement. “However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus — and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.”

There are 189 games left on the regular season schedule, including 10 that were scheduled to be played Thursday night. Exactly when any league will resume play is to be determined, and this month’s NCAA college basketball tournaments may wind up cancelled.

The NHL is surely leading the way in optimism right now.

At this point a two-to-three week hiatus feels like the short end of what could be a lengthy time frame for the NHL, NBA or any other league that’s in-season to return to play.

Focusing strictly on the NHL, ideas of a shortened first round of the playoffs or the postseason going into July don’t seem all that bad under the broader, and dire, current worldwide circumstances. Players who are currently out for an extended period of time (Steven Stamkos, Jake Guentzel, etc.) may now have a chance to play more games in the playoffs when the league resumes play later this year.

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