The NHL and its players’ association announced on Thursday that Phase 3 of the league’s return-to-play plan will open on July 10.
The third phase of the league’s four-step plan to resume play will mark the official opening of formal training camps, with the 24 teams set to compete in the 2019-20 playoffs all hitting the ice.
The date comes with the condition that medical and safety conditions must allow for this next phase to begin.
The league did not specify how long training camps will run, with a start date for Phase 4 (the resumption of play) still to be determined.
If everything gets taken care of and camps open on July 10, that would place the likely resumption of the NHL season at the beginning of August.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 11, 2020
The NHL opened Phase 2 on Monday, giving clubs the go-ahead to open practice facilities at their own discretion and offer small-group on- and off-ice training sessions for players.
The NHL suspended its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12.
[relatedlinks]