Just seems like a wash to me, every team has nagging to serious injuries that they would be able to recover from. It's not like anybody got any extra time off. I get the continuity aspect of it.

I have been saying since early March, when murmours of a "pause" were coming, that they should just get it over with and cancel, however. But the idea that the season gets finished, and a full playoffs are played entirely healthy and rusty intrigues me. It would be loosey goosey hockey like that Pittsburgh/Philadelphia 7 game series from a few years back. The one with 100% PP efficiency for both teams going into Game #5, and goalies leaking like sieves. It would be awesome.
- Kyleponi23

The “loosey goosey” aspect kind of intrigues me, too. It could be like the Wild West out there. Haha.

Thanks for weighing in, guys. Some good points here and things I didn’t think of.

One of the things that’s interesting (and where the asterisk comes in for me) is when it comes to big playoff pool idea, and the potential of a team (that would have probably not been in the playoffs), possibly going deep/all the way.

I’m probably misunderstanding that, but wouldn’t it be more like a tournament, this making the season’s work not really count for a lot?

Maybe that’s how it has to be in these circumstances, I’m not sure. But it would feel like a different league/set of rules to me.

I’m curious to see what they do.
- Matt Ross

Finishing the regular season would be logistically impossible with the current state of things. The regular season games already played wouldn't be a total waste as it determines the final 24, I guess. The first "round" of the 24 team format would be a substitute for the end of regular season. Then the "playoffs" would start with the normal 16 teams. It does kind of have a tournament feel to it, but maybe that's due more to the long break since this hiatus began.

You're good with tossing aside a potential $350M in monies if the 24 team playoff format is fully played?

Easy for you to say just cancel it.
- kingcong39

I fully realize this, that yes it is easy for me to say this. It’s not money I’m losing but don’t confuse people who have lost their jobs and are struggling to get by with NHL owners and players.

Don't know about the whole asterisk thing, but it's long past time to call it a season.

If the league could voluntarily forgo an entire season's revenue to "make a point", it can forgo a partial season's revenue for a global health crisis (and one that is far from over in its own geographic space).

Finishing the regular season would be logistically impossible with the current state of things. The regular season games already played wouldn't be a total waste as it determines the final 24, I guess. The first "round" of the 24 team format would be a substitute for the end of regular season. Then the "playoffs" would start with the normal 16 teams. It does kind of have a tournament feel to it, but maybe that's due more to the long break since this hiatus began.
- Ratsreign

The AHL is officially done for the season.

Bummer.

Like it or not, I don't see play resuming.

Forget the hockey elements for a second, for the NHL to start playing anything, it needs:

o International travel to reopen and resume. As the most international of the major North American sports leagues, this is a critical prerequisite. Beside the obvious travel across US/Canada border, there are probably players sheltering in place at their homes in 20 other countries. Will they be forced to quarantine for 2 weeks after entering the country, if they can even get out of their home country?

o Venues and supporting facilities--not just ice for games, they need practice ice, training facilities, hotel accommodations, food services, transportation services, and more. These support facilities and their staff must also be available and safe. In addition to players, there is coaching, management, trainers, team support, and media personnel to consider. Keeping fans out significantly reduces the absolute numbers of people involved in games, but barely scratches the degree of complexity involved.

o Assuming teams can be assembled after any travel quarantines, they still need time for conditioning and practice. Add another couple of weeks at a minimum. Playoff intensity with pre-season conditioning is not a good combination for player safety or game quality.

o Next, potential liability is a huge hurdle to jump before resuming play. What if players, staff, media, or support get Covid-19 after play resumes? Who is liable and what is the potential amount of liability? You can bet lawyers will be involved. Are insurance companies even preparing to sell these products? The NHL probably needs some sort of government-mandated liability limitations (for both US and Canada) before play resumes.

o Finally, as above, are they prepared to incur the costs of shutting down again if someone gets Covid-19 once play resumes? Getting ready to play will be a big investment. Are they ready to write that off with the first positive test result? That seems like a big risk to take. On the other hand, I don't see them standing up to the media outcry or players union if they try to continue play after a positive(s).

I just don't see NHL resuming anytime soon.