If the NHL were to resume play this season, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby wouldn't mind skipping right to the postseason. Of course, it helps that the Capitals and Penguins were in first place and third place in the Metropolitan Division, respectively, when the NHL paused play on March 12.

"I'd rather start the playoffs right away," Ovechkin said on a video call with reporters on Thursday. "Sorry, guys."

Crosby said he would like to "get in as many games as you can."

The NHL is temporarily cutting the pay of league office employees by 25%.

The league confirmed that salaries will be reduced across the board starting April 1.

The NHL's season has been on pause since March 12 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to sources, the NHL is hoping that the temporary pay cut among league office employees will prevent layoffs during this uncertain time.

New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who required 90 stitches to repair a cut around his eyelid after being hit in the face by the skate of the Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen earlier this month, will return to action when the NHL resumes play, general manager Lou Lamoriello said Saturday.

Seattle's NHL expansion franchise has not ruled out unveiling its highly anticipated name and logo while many of its fans are social distancing and self-quarantined due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The team told ESPN that it is still going through the name and logo trademarking process with the NHL, ensuring that it won't have the same obstacles the Vegas expansion team did in trying to secure exclusivity on "Golden Knights." There was no date determined to reveal the name, logo and colors for the team before the global outbreak, nor was there a public event scheduled for the reveal.

"In theory, coronavirus will not delay our name and will not affect it, but we're in unprecedented times. So I can't say that as soon as the legal process is wrapped up that we'll go with the name," said Katie Townsend, vice president of corporate communications at NHL Seattle. "We're working as hard as we can. We know how badly our fans want it."

The NHL has suspended its season because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus but hopes to resume in the future.

There are 189 games and three and a half weeks remaining in the NHL's regular season. There were 10 games on the NHL slate Thursday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets became the first NHL team to say Wednesday they would play home games without fans due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The team's announcement comes after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he will issue an order banning spectators from games in the state.