The NHL and NHLPA issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying that, despite reports and speculation over the league’s next steps in returning to play, no decisions or timeline have been established yet.
According to the statement, recent developments in some NHL club’s local communities have prompted the league and the players’ association to look ahead to Phase 2 of the transition back to playing.
Phase 1, which is currently still in place, involves a period of self-quarantine by both players and hockey staff.
A date to proceed to Phase 2, wherein players might return to small group activities in NHL club training facilities, has not yet been decided.
The statement went on to say that, if conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continue to trend favourably, advancing to Phase 2 may be possible at some point in mid-to-late May.
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