Bettman said he is unsure how far into the summer the NHL could push its schedulegetty images
The NHL's decision to pause its season due to coronavirus leaves "numerous unanswered questions," from when games might resume to "what the economic impact might be on the bottom line," according to Wawrow & Whyno of the AP. Predators President & CEO Sean Henry "wouldn't rule out the possibility of the season not resuming." He said, "We're working through really uncharted territory" (AP, 3/13). In Minneapolis, Sarah McLellan notes if and when the NHL’s season does restart, it is "unclear if the regular season resumes where it left off, whether an abridged schedule takes place, or the playoffs start immediately ... since not all teams have played the same amount of games." Any scenario, however, "could be complicated by arena availability" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/13). NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that he is "not sure how far into the summer the NHL could push the schedule as the league is taking a day-to-day approach with the development of the coronavirus" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/13).
WHAT'S NEXT? In Toronto, Kevin McGran notes it is "believed the NHL has asked teams to book arenas through the end of July, which raises questions about the draft, set for June 24 and 25 in Montreal, and free agency, set to open July 1" (TORONTO STAR, 3/13). THE ATHLETIC's Pierre LeBrun noted the NHL is "more gate-driven than the NBA, as the two league’s TV deals aren’t even comparable." The NHL’s financial well-being "depends on getting those four rounds of playoff games in even if it means summer hockey" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/12). In N.Y., Larry Brooks notes the NHL, with "substantial input" from the NHLPA, will "attempt to be as creative as possible in either saving some remaining portion of the regular season that would precede a somewhat traditional playoff format or in creating an expanded playoff tournament." Generating revenue is "critical not only to the athletes’ short-term needs, but for the long-term sustainability of the NHL’s hard-cap league." Sources on Thursday said that it was "unclear whether teams would continue to pay players during the 'pause' in the season" (N.Y. POST, 3/13). MLSE President & CEO Michael Friisdahl said that the organization is "putting plans in place to take care of its event workers during the work stoppages" (TORONTO SUN, 3/13).
THE ONLY CHOICE: In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont writes "common sense and logic" prevailed on Thursday with the NHL's decision to pause the season. The league was "left with no choice" following the NBA's season suspension on Wednesday night (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/13). In Montreal, Stu Cowan writes Bettman "made the correct decision even if all NHL owners weren't on board at first" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 3/13). SPORTSNET's Chris Johnston wrote this "felt like the only path forward" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/12). But in Pittsburgh, Kevin Gorman writes of the NHL, "What was it waiting for, Sidney Crosby to test positive?" (TRIBLIVE.com, 3/12).
