Details remain to be finalized with health and safety protocols as well as monetary issues. But the NHL moved another step closer on Thursday to resuming a season placed on pause on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 24 NHL teams included in the league's return-to-play format will start their formal training camps on July 10 if it is safe to do so, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association announced in a joint statement.
That is Phase 3 of the NHL's reopening plan. Phase 2, the resumption of small-group workouts at team facilities on a voluntary basis without coaches, was allowed to begin Monday. There is no timeline yet for Phase 4 (resumption of games), though it's believed training camps will last up to three weeks.
