NHL commissioner Gary Bettman used a televised news conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the league’s plans to resume the 2019-20 season, 11 weeks after it was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wings, whose 17-49-5 record on March 12 guaranteed a last-place finish, will not be called upon to play the 11 games remaining on their schedule, as the NHL will proceed directly to a 24-team playoff format.
Twelve teams from the Eastern Conference will be assigned to a hub city, and the other 12, from the West, will be assigned to the other hub city.