Shorts and skates don't usually mix. Maintaining NHL-quality ice in August or holding a Stanley Cup Final in September? Those are far from the norm, too.

With the NHL playoffs, which were to begin Wednesday, on indefinite hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, anything and everything is on the table if Commissioner Gary Bettman's objective to complete the season is to be realized.

What the format will be, when play might realistically resume and whether the NHL might require games at neutral sites - how's North Dakota sound? - is anyone's guess.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) John Hynes has only been head coach of the Nashville Predators since early January, so he's trying to make up for some lost time with the NHL paused for the coronavirus pandemic and also make sure they're ready whenever hockey resumes.

A big part of that has been getting to know each of his Predators much, much better.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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President Donald Trump talked to many U.S. pro sports leaders about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, saying he was looking forward to the resumption of competitions "as soon as we can."

"I want fans back in the arenas," Trump said later in a briefing at the White House. "I think it's ... whenever we're ready. As soon as we can, obviously. And the fans want to be back, too. They want to see basketball and baseball and football and hockey. They want to see their sports. They want to go out onto the golf courses and breathe nice, clean, beautiful fresh air."

NEW YORK (AP) A hacker posted a racial slur hundreds of times in an online fan video chat Friday with a black New York Rangers prospect.

The NHL team scrambled to disable the hacker on the Zoom chat with K'Andre Miller, the 20-year-old former Wisconsin defenseman drafted No. 22 overall in 2018.

San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson isn't ready to remove the interim head coach tag from Bob Boughner's title yet.

Noting the Sharks' season is not officially over with the NHL on hiatus due to the coronavirus, Wilson voiced his support by saying Boughner has the edge in taking over the job on a permanent basis.

The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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