Rumor: NHL Considering Suspending Season

The Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers are the latest teams to have their schedule changed as two Flyers have been moved to the COVID protocol list and the game tonight between the two clubs appears to be postponed. 

With COVID running wild throughout the USA and throughout the NHL, according to one league executive, the league has discussed internally about putting a two to three-week stoppage on this season so teams can get their players healthy and the league can begin to re-write the schedule. 

No official word yet from the NHL on this, keep an eye out for an announcement this week if it's coming. 

Tonight’s game likely postponed. https://t.co/JrIjxU1G3K

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 9, 2021

Dreger on TSN says the NHL may have no choice but to pushback the start of the playoffs after the NHL announced seven more postponements today. DD adds they're hoping at the commissioner level they won't have to do that, they want to start next season on time.

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) February 9, 2021

NHL COVID-Protocol Related Absences List - Feb 8

+ ADDED: Rasmus Dahlin (BUF); Victor Rask (MIN); Carson Soucy (MIN); Connor Carrick, Nico Hischier, Sami Vatanen (NJD)

- REMOVED: Adam Boqvist (CHI); Andrej Sekera (DAL); Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov (WSH)

Total players: 49 pic.twitter.com/etLcmMoaIX

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) February 8, 2021

Going through the NHL COVID Protocol Related Absences since Jan. 13, I believe there are only 5 teams that haven't had a player listed (yet):@NHLFlames, @CanadiensMTL, @Senators, @StLouisBlues, @MapleLeafs

Keep in mind list is for everything from positive test to quarantine.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 8, 2021

If players on the Bruins (who they played Friday) start testing positive, we might be in for a league wide suspension of the season. https://t.co/I5xMXh99RP

— Connor Cadaret (@Caddy1414) February 9, 2021

Photo credit: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire