NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league will suspend the season due to coronavirus concerns.
"In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019‑20 season beginning with tonight’s games," the league's statement read. “The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus – and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point – it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time."
“We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions – including by self-quarantine, where appropriate," the statement continued. "Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy."
The Nashville Predators and all other teams had their morning skates and practices cancelled this morning. This comes just after the NBA decided to halt it's season for the same concerns. The difference being, one NBA player was diagnosed with the virus. It's not believed that any Preds player or other NHL player has been diagnosed with it.
Last week, the Preds and all other teams closed their locker rooms to the media for everyone's protection.
It's not known when the league would resume the season as everything is fluid right now.