Report: NHL targeting early June for practice facility openings, group workouts
The NHL and NHLPA approved a 24-team playoff format last week, and they're now reportedly making even more progress on a return to action.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the league is targeting early June for the opening of practice facilities and small group workouts.
While this is great news for a potential resumption of the season, LeBrun adds that the memo states Phase 2 has no official start or end date. On top of that, the memo reportedly emphasizes that player participation in workouts is voluntary and no more than six players can be in a practice facility at once.
The NHL, like many leagues across the United States, has a long way to go before games officially get underway again.
In Major League Baseball, the New York Mets and Yankees announced they'd be returning to their spring training facilities at some point in the near future for workouts, and the NBA is making progress towards a season resumption at Walt Disney World.
While the NHL is set to partake in a 24-team playoff format, the specific details have yet to be ironed out.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes voted against the new postseason format, saying it's "unfair," but they'll likely be happy they can return to the ice soon rather than not at all.
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