NHL scheduled to move into Phase 2 of return to play plan in early June

The NHL will be moving into the second phase of its return to play guidelines shortly.

There is still a long way to go before hockey can resume, but the NHL is taking one small step closer to that reality within the coming weeks. On Monday, the NHL announced the league is ready to move into Phase 2 of the league’s Return to Play initiative as early as the beginning of June.

Phase 2 of the league’s plan will allow the teams to reopen their training facilities in the states and providences allowed to do so and would allow a maximum of six players to train at one time. Teams must comply with the public health mandates and best practices of their regions, which means face coverings are mandatory except when on the ice or exercising.

The NHL has been in the first phase of this plan since the league went on pause in mid-March.

What does Phase 2 of the NHL’s return to play initiative include?

The major distinction about Phase 2 is that it is voluntary, meaning the league will not force players or teams to begin workouts if they are not comfortable doing so. Phase 2 also allows teams and players to exit self-quarantine and travel back to their team cities if needed.

Phase 2 does not, however, outline what will happen if a player does in fact test positive for coronavirus. The league’s plans for player and staff testing are also vague and put the onus on teams to procure tests, which — given the current climate of North America — are likely hard to find.

There’s still a lot of work to be done for the NHL to return in any capacity later this year. The league and the NHLPA recently approved a 24-team playoff format for if the league can resume in late summer this year, which passed with an overwhelming majority, though no timeline has been given for the league as of yet.

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