This was inevitable. It was just a matter of time before the NHL had to act on it after watching the NBA and other sports events do the same.
The NHL has been suspended with hope to resume.
The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020
There is no travel allowed. No practices. The NHL has told players to go home and stay home until further notice.
There hasn’t been any indication of a return date yet as it’s too soon to tell.
Source on NHL players’ side thinks “best case” would be a 2-3 week suspension, a short continuation of a sub-82-game reg. season and then a truncated playoffs with shorter opening series. But playing into July is an option. Again, one person's informed speculation.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 12, 2020
We could definitely see this go into July, and for any teams that make it into the 3rd or Final round of the playoffs, that’s going to be a quick turnaround for training camp in September.
The most optimistic people in hockey I've talked to have suggested this "pause" only lasts three or four weeks and then the playoffs would start almost as scheduled in mid-April. Hard to imagine that happens, but that's the hope.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 12, 2020