The NHL has begun brainstorming possible neutral site locations to finish the 2019-20 season and Stanley Cup playoffs. It's been more than a month since the league went on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 5, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that North Dakota was discussed as a possible neutral site location. Another site that's been tossed around is Manchester, N.H., according to reporter John Shannon.

In addition to North Dakota, as @FriedgeHNIC reported over the weekend, also hearing Manchester, NH as a potential site for NHL games...IF, and its a big IF...If the NHL was to resume the schedule over the summer. — John Shannon (@JShannonhl) April 6, 2020

SNHU Arena could be a likely venue to stage NHL games should the season resume.

On April 17, Gov. Chris Sununu confirmed to WEEI that he has talked to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"There is truth to that," Sununu said. "I have had discussions about that. I don’t know whether it’s going to happen, but we are talking about it. That’s all I can really say right now.

"I can tell you it would be a very interesting opportunity for New Hampshire, but even the venues would have to say, ‘Yes, we want this’ because we have to make sure where the liabilities are here, what if a team were to get sick, how is it going to be managed? So we’re working on some of those logistics. But that’s on the table, for sure."

MORE: North Dakota's potential of hosting NHL games

Why New Hampshire?

As of April 1, 2019, New Hampshire has a population of 1,359,711 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Manchester is the highest populated city in the state and is the only city in New Hampshire with over 100,000 residents.

New Hampshire ranks 42nd in population among the 50 states. According to CNN, as of April 6, the state has 669 coronavirus cases with 49 cases per 100,000 residents. The number of COVID-19 cases is the 11th-lowest state total in the United States.

What is the potential venue?

SNHU Arena would be the likely venue of choice should the NHL schedule games in Manchester. The arena capacity for hockey is 10,019 and served as the home of the now-defunct Manchester Monarchs, who played in the American Hockey League (2001-15) and the ECHL (2015-19), and a few Boston Bruins preseason games.

Opened in 2001, the arena has also hosted the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament as a regional site eight times, most recently in 2019. They are slated to host a regional again in 2021.

Reaction to the news

When the original news was reported, the New Hampshire Union Leader's Michael Cousineau said a source close to SNHU Arena shut down rumors of the NHL staging games there.

"Zero conversations with anyone," the source told the paper. "Never heard of it before you called. Not happening here, makes zero sense."

On a call with reporters, the Canucks' Tanner Pearson, who played the better part of two seasons in Manchester when they were the Kings' affiliate, was asked about the possibility of playing games in his old rink.