With the NHL currently on pause due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, no one is sure how the league will handle the rest of the season once play resumes.

The league announced on Monday that, while they've told players they can return to their homes outside of their team's city, they hope to have training camps open by the beginning of May. One rumored option for the rest of the season, if and when the NHL returns, would give some teams an unexpected lifeline.

According to Sport-Express writer Igor Eronko, the NHL is considering a modified 24-team playoff format, which would add eight more teams to the usual 16 that make the postseason. TSN's Darren Dreger later confirmed that at least one team considers it a "strong option".

I know of one team that considers this a strong option. NHL schedule maker is literally working through all options and NHL clubs are submitting creative ideas as well. https://t.co/axdYu6KE8V — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 16, 2020

Presumably, the format would include an equal number of teams from each conference, meaning there'd be 12 representatives from the East and 12 from the West.

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That number isn't as random as it seems. Based on the current standings, it would mean that every team with a mathematical playoff chance would make the postseason. It makes a degree of sense, given that it would be unfair to eliminate teams if they're still theoretically eligible for the postseason.

Remarkably, that would mean the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks, who sit in 12th place in their respective conferences, would earn playoff berths. According to Hockey-Reference.com, the Canadiens' current playoff chances are 0.1 percent while the Blackhawks' are at 2.5 percent.

It would be a sweet deal for the eight teams currently on the outside looking in and nothing short of a miracle for Montreal and Chicago. The Central Division would also make history by sending every one of its teams to the postseason.

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There would likely be a preliminary round of playoff games among the lower-placed teams to whittle the field down to the standard 16. Higher-placed teams, possibly the three leaders of each division, are expected to get a bye until after that point.

These are the 24 teams that would make the postseason under such a format:

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington Capitals

2. Philadelphia Flyers

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

4. Carolina Hurricanes

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

6. New York Islanders

7. New York Rangers

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Bruins

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

4. Florida Panthers

5. Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference

Central Division

1. St. Louis Blues

2. Colorado Avalanche

3. Dallas Stars

4. Winnipeg Jets

5. Nashville Predators

6. Minnesota Wild

7. Chicago Blackhawks

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights

2. Edmonton Oilers

3. Calgary Flames

4. Vancouver Canucks

5. Arizona Coyotes