Commissioner says NHL return hinges on players' fitness levels

Commissioner Gary Bettman is eager for the NHL to resume playing games after the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, but only if the players are physically fit.

"We don't want them playing games until they're back in game shape," Bettman told the NHL Network on Thursday.

Bettman also said the end of the current season, whenever that happens, could push back the beginning of the 2020-21 season to December.

"This isn't a race to be the first back," he said adding there is no definite timetable for a restart.

"We're going to try to make good, prudent, careful judgments. When we come back, we want it to be at the right time, for the right reasons, under the right circumstances.

"We have a great deal of flexibility in terms of when we can start. There's no magic for next season of starting in October as we traditionally do. If we have to start in November or December, that's something that will be under consideration."