There is some hope within the NHL and NHLPA that they can at least get some playoff hockey in this season. Playoffs could be expanded to include more than the typical 16 teams.
The ongoing pause in the NHL's 2019-20 schedule over COVID-19 concerns is generating growing speculation over what the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs might look like upon the league's return. It's also thrown into question the outcome of the NHL scoring race and the main individual awards.
Overlooked is the effect of this schedule pause on non-playoff teams.