NHL focused on new plan for its return!

The NHL and NHLPA have held lots of meetings to discuss several different scenarios in order to get the 2019-20 season back underway, but according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, one plan has not gathered all of their attention. 

The NHL is now focusing on skipping the remainder of the regular season and jumping straight into the playoffs if it’s able to resume play. An immediate start to the postseason would come as a significant change in the league’s position after reports back in April indicated the NHL was prioritizing regular-season games and considering condensing the playoffs in order to crown a 2020 Stanley Cup champion. 

As you know by now, the league is looking more and more at the option of a 24-team playoff format, which is gaining traction around the NHL.

There were 189 regular-season contests remaining on the 2019-20 schedule when the NHL postponed the campaign on March 12 due to the COVID-19 crisis and it seems like we can say goodbye to those and the seven teams that aren’t in contention. That would mean the season would be officially over for the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. 

There would be important changes to the game due to the ongoing pandemic as reported by TSN earlier this week. See below for a few ideas and a quote from Bill Daly on the NHL's willingness to entertain potential changes.