The NHL is pumping the brakes on speculation the league is ramping up for an impending return to the ice.
But in doing so by issuing a joint statement with the NHLPA following Wednesday’s virtual meeting of the Return to Play committee, the parties do seem to be contemplating a timeline that would get the league back on the ice for informal workouts by the end of next month.
That, of course, would be dependent on advice from health officials and local governing bodies across the continent.
“The NHL and NHLPA have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios,” the statement read. “Given recent developments in some NHL Clubs’ local communities, we are now looking ahead to a Phase 2 of the transition period that would follow the currently recommended Phase 1 of ‘self-quarantine’ by Players and Hockey Staff.”
The NHL’s recommended self-quarantine period, which had been scheduled to expire at midnight Thursday, has been extended for an indefinite period, with further guidance expected next week. The Post has been told Phase 2 would not begin until at least May 15.
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“The precise date of transition to Phase 2 during which Players might return to small group activities in NHL Club training facilities, remains undetermined,” the statement continued. “However, provided that conditions continue to trend favorably — and, subject to potential competitive concerns as to disparately situated markets — we believe we may be able to move to Phase 2 at some point in the mid-to-later portion of May.
“Specific guidelines governing Player and Hockey Staff activity would be provided at that time. In the meantime, we expect Players and Hockey Staff to continue to adhere to recommended guidelines put in place when the season was paused on Mar. 12.”
While players in North America and most European outposts have been restricted by NHL and local guidelines, Swedish players have been allowed to skate given the country’s absence of a stay-at-home policy. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Post last week that the NHL would not prohibit players from skating in Sweden.
If conditions allow for informal workouts to begin in mid-to-late May, formal training camps of up to three weeks could commence in early June. That would set up resumption of 2019-20, in whatever form, in late June or early July.
Should the league complete the remainder of the regular season — 189 games remain — ahead of a traditional four-round playoff, that would likely mean awarding the Stanley Cup in late September.
Under that scenario, the opening of the 2020-21 season would be pushed back until perhaps late November or early December. That late start date would likely work in the league’s favor even if it proves impossible to complete this season, for the later the start of 2020-21, the better the chance of more cities and more arenas allowing spectators into arenas that would generate gate revenue that is the NHL’s lifeblood.