The 2020-21 NHL season will not be shortened, even in the event the currently paused season extends deep into the summer, the league said Monday.

During an update posted in Q&A format on its official website, the NHL answered a hypothetical question about the effects on next season that a 2020 postseason extending into July or August might have. The league answered by saying it does “not anticipate a scenario in our resumption of play format that would endanger or interfere with the League’s ability to stage and execute the 2020-21 NHL season in its entirety.”

Along with the rest of the sports world, the NHL is on hiatus during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. When the league first announced it was “pausing” its season, it gave no timetable for a return.

Monday, though, the league reiterated its statement from last week that indicates its best-case scenario is to ramp up for a return to play after a 60-day pause. That timeline is in reference to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation against gatherings with 50 people or more for a period of eight weeks. The league wrote Monday that if that time frame holds, it would look to have a 15-day de facto training camp to allow its players to get back into game shape.

“We will continue to monitor developments during the 60-day window prescribed by the CDC,” the NHL’s post read. “Assuming events are tracking positively, we would hope to be able to begin providing high-level guidance on the potential of opening a (team) training camp period roughly 45 days into the period covered by the CDC’s recommendation.”

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 23, 2020

The league confirmed it is aware of two Ottawa Senators players testing positive for covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Those are the only players it is aware of who have tested positive, and the league said there are no plans to test all players.

“Our medical experts do not recommend mass-testing for all NHL Players,” the league wrote. “Besides the fact that there would be insufficient testing resources to accommodate such a direction, the medical community does not believe that such testing is medically indicated, or in accordance with the parameters issued by applicable health authorities.”

Players were advised to self-quarantine until this coming Friday, and they were permitted to return to their home cities if they so chose. The league said after the end of the self-quarantine period, “consideration will be given to allowing the opening of (team) facilities to (p)layers in scheduled and coordinated small groups for voluntary training and (team) care.”

In light of the ever-evolving realities of life during the crisis, the NHL could offer no details on a possible playoff format or how any remaining regular-season games would be played — if any — or if fans would be permitted in the buildings for them.

“It is premature to say what the circumstances would be for resumption of play,” the NHL’s statement read, “but we are prepared to follow the direction of relevant health authorities.”

The NHL similarly said it would need to wait until the end of the crisis to offer details on modifications to the draft, combine or player-contract structure.

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