from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

The 2020-21 NHL season could start in mid-January and include a shortened schedule, temporary realignment with a division made up of the seven teams based in Canada, division games only, and games in home arenas, hubs or a combination, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday.

Nothing has been finalized as the NHL and NHL Players' Association continue to discuss a number of issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are focused on starting at some point hopefully in mid-January," Commissioner Bettman said via video conference in a panel discussion on "Holding Domestic and International Competitions in the Modern Conditions of a Pandemic" at the World Hockey Forum in Moscow.

"… It is clear that we will not be playing an 82-game schedule for the regular season, which we normally do, but we're going to try and play as many games as possible."

The NHL and the NHLPA are trying to adjust to government regulations at all levels, from restrictions at the Canada-United States border to restrictions on gatherings in different jurisdictions, and the coronavirus situation in each market.

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added 10:46am, Elliotte Friedman tweet,