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Frequently asked questions about the NHL’s hiatus due to COVID-19

By Mary Clarke

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Assistant Equipment Manager Brady Munger of the Detroit Red Wings packs a stick bag after the Detroit Red Wings against the Washington Capitals game was postponed due to the coronavirus at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Today the NHL announced is has suspended their season due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with hopes of returning. The NHL currently joins the NBA, MLS, as well as, other sporting events and leagues around the world suspending play because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Assistant Equipment Manager Brady Munger of the Detroit Red Wings packs a stick bag after the Detroit Red Wings against the Washington Capitals game was postponed due to the coronavirus at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Today the NHL announced is has suspended their season due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with hopes of returning. The NHL currently joins the NBA, MLS, as well as, other sporting events and leagues around the world suspending play because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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There are a lot of unknowns surrounding the NHL’s return after their pause in play. Here’s what we know about the situation.

Two weeks ago, the NHL made the major, season-changing decision to suspend the rest of the 2019-20 regular season until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league is calling the hiatus a pause in the season, upon which the NHL will eventually resume play and hopefully award the Stanley Cup by season’s end.

However, there’s a lot we don’t know about what form the NHL will take when play returns from this temporary suspension. Will the league forgo the regular season entirely and skip right to the playoffs? What about free agency and the draft? Will the Stanley Cup playoffs be played in late July?

Of course, there are more questions than answers at this point in time, given that we are still within the first few weeks of what will likely be a lengthy delay in our regular hockey viewing habits. And that’s okay! No one has all the answers yet, but here’s what we do know about what will happen to the NHL upon its return.

When will the NHL return from this pause?

We’ve been given a slight timeline from the NHL, with the news that the league is allowing players to return to their home countries (if they wish) over the next few weeks. In the NHL’s update, the league has stated they are looking to host a training camp within the next 45 days, due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s newest mandate recommending canceling gatherings of over 50 people for the next eight weeks.

Translation: The earliest the NHL will return to play in some form is May 1.

Can players be signed or moved during this hiatus?

The NHL instituted a league-wide roster freeze at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, March 16.

Will the NHL play the rest of the regular season when it returns?

It’s hard to say. Depending on how fast the process is for getting the NHL back onto its feet in the coming weeks. A shortened regular season would still likely push the Stanley Cup Final into late July, which has its own problems with arena availability, but the NHL did ask teams their in-summer availability, which means the league is doing its due diligence on finding a possible solution here.

If the NHL can’t play their regular season due to any reason, will they jump right into the playoffs?

Possibly. Now that the Summer Olympics have been postponed, the league will not butt heads with the biggest sporting event of the season. Starting with the playoffs, however, opens its own can of worms.

What problems would the NHL face if they resumed with the playoffs?

The biggest is the logistical issues. Not every team has played the same number of games, so going by the current standings is meaningless. Organizing teams by points percentage would help, but those that are on the outside looking in likely aren’t happy with the possibility of being knocked out of the playoffs with no chance to play their way in.

Would the playoff format change if the NHL canceled the rest of the regular season?

The NHL is reportedly looking at a 24-team format for the playoffs when the season gets back underway. Expanding the playoff format or altering it for this season may placate the teams that would be dissatisfied if they were left out of competing entirely. Nothing seems to be off the table for the league in order to get the Stanley Cup awarded this year.

Will free agency still happen? What about the draft?

Free agency and the draft — along with the combine — have officially been postponed out of June to a later date.

What’s the deal with the salary cap?

Given that league revenue is tied to the games played each season, one could expect the NHL to have a lower salary cap for next season. However, given how unusual this situation is, the league may decide to find a way to keep the salary cap from decreasing at all as to not hurt teams that were expected to get a bump from the potential salary cap increase to $88.2 million.

Are team employees and arena works across the league being paid during this work stoppage?

As of Thursday, the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins are not paying their arena workers.

Have any players tested positive for COVID-19?

There have been three confirmed cases in the NHL so far, the latest of which the Colorado Avalanche announced Thursday, March 26. The player has fully recovered after self-isolating when coming down with coronavirus symptoms.

The other two confirmed cases come from the Ottawa Senators.

According to James Mirtle, editor-in-chief of The Athletic Canada, multiple Senators were experiencing symptoms and may have gotten it from an NBA team on the last day before the NHL shut down (subscription required).

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Aaron Ness was tested for the virus, but came back with a negative result last week.

Okay, so what DO you know?

Social distancing is good! Read a book, catch up on some TV, or take some of my recommendations of things to watch or play during this unexpected downtime. We’ll get through this time without sports together.

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