Photo: John Russell/Getty Images

The NHL announced on Friday morning that the Global Series events for the 2020-21 season have been postponed due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The league is committed to finishing this season even if it means awarding the Stanley Cup in September or October and starting the 2020-21 season in December. The NHL postponed other league events like the draft in Montreal, awards show in Las Vegas, and scouting combine in Buffalo earlier during the pandemic. The season paused on March 12 with each team having played 68-71 games already.

The NHL could go straight to the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 16, 20, or 24 teams, according to a report on Thursday, though the goal is to finish the regular season even though it may not be possible.

The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins were slated to face off in at 02 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic to open the season and the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets were going to play two regular-season games against each other at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland later in the fall.

“The NHLPA and the NHL remain committed to maintaining and growing our international presence. We hope that our fans overseas understand the need to postpone the 2020 games, but we look forward to being back with them in 2021,” the league and player association said in a statement released.

The Washington Capitals were shooting to play a game or two in Russia next season but ran out of time to work that through. This could mean that the team has to wait an extra year before getting their wish granted.

By Harrison Brown