Unique playoff scenario in place amidst coronavirus hiatus

We have no clue when hockey will be back in the wake of commissioner Gary Bettman’s announcement Thursday that the 2019-20 season has been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the league has to get ready for what comes next and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes a plan might already be discussed on how the Stanley Cup will be awarded this year.

On the air of Sportsnet 590, Friedman explained that league officials are “recognizing the unique scenario this season is and is willing to consider unique playoff formats.”

.@FriedgeHNIC: NHL still wants to award Stanley Cup this year. That says to me that they will do everything in their power to do something. I think the Commissioner made it clear, they are recognizing the unique scenario this season is & willing to consider unique playoff formats
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) March 12, 2020

It is believed a suggestion has been made that the league would allow 24 teams into the postseason this year. It would give the top 4 seeds in each conference a bye and make the 5-12 teams play a best-of-3.

NHL season officially on hold.

Get this: One suggestion I heard was to allow 24 teams into the playoffs. Give the top 4 seeds in each conference a bye and make the 5-12 teams play a best-of-three.

Know what that would mean? The Blackhawks would qualify.
— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) March 12, 2020

There are 189 games — including 10 slated for Thursday — left on the NHL’s regular-season calendar. It’s unclear what the hiatus means for those contests or the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin April 8.

We will have to see if that will happen and how the rest of the schedule will be affected.

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Unique playoff scenario in place amidst coronavirus hiatus

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