Things are moving in the right direction.
After team facilities opened earlier this week, marking the start of Phase 2 of the NHL's Return To Play plan, there's more progress being made.
Here's official word from the NHL:
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that formal training camps (Phase 3) for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10, provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play. The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date.
Sportsnet's Chris Johnston was first to report that July 10 is the targeted date for the start of Phase 3 – which means the opening of team training camps in home cities. The 24 teams participating in the resumption of play will have three weeks to prepare for the tournament, which would begin in early August.
Hearing the NHL is targetting July 10 for the start of Phase 3 (training camps), subject to getting an agreement done with the NHLPA.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 11, 2020
The Blue Jackets began small-group skating sessions (of no more than six players and up to two coaches) on Thursday, June 11. That leaves approximately one month between the start of those workouts and the start of their official training camp.
When the league resumes play, the Blue Jackets will play a best-of-five qualifying round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The winner advances to another best-of-five quarterfinal round series, and beyond that, the series are best-of-seven.
An official announcement from the NHL regarding Phase 3 is expected soon.
