In an announcement just made by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the NHL regular season has been suspended due to coronavirus outbreak.
It’s important to note that this is being called a “pause” by Bettman, and no full cancellation for the Nashville Predators and the rest of the NHL teams’ respective seasons.
Here’s a full copy of the statement handed down from Bettman just after 1 P.M. Eastern Time:
The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020
It’s unknown how the season will eventually be finished, but there’s the possibility that the season could resume and stretch into the month of July.
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You could also go the route of just ending the regular season and putting teams with the best point percentages into the playoffs. That would account for the uneven number of games played.
This scenario would put the Predators in the playoff field. But we’re in territory that means so much more than sports and who gets in the playoffs.
Another important measure behind this decision, other than the obvious, is that NHL teams regularly share arenas and common areas with NBA teams.
The NBA has already had a positive coronavirus tests by players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. This played into the decision by the NHL, per Bettman’s statement.
"“However, following last new’s that a NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus-and given our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms it seems likely some member of the NHL community would test positive”"
Taking all of the necessary precautions in this matter is extremely important, so you have to applaud the NHL for being proactive when it comes to safety of fans, players, media and everyone else involved.
The season will resume in some form or fashion. The most important measure is keeping everyone safe.
We will continue to get Predators content to you while we sit in this uncharted territory surrounding the coronavirus and pausing the NHL regular season.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.