Full details of Phase 3 and Phase 4 of NHL Return To Play

The full details of phase 3 and phase 4 of the NHL Return to Play format have been revealed.

The entire thread from Bob McKenzie goes through each point. There’s another one from Elliotte Friedman. Here are the key points:

• The CBA and phases 3 and 4 of the NHL Return to Play format need to be approved by the NHLPA and the Board of Governors. No vote will happen until the CBA is completed. Given Phase 3 is supposed to start on July 13, that will be done in short order.
• Teams will be allowed a maximum of 30 skaters and unlimited goalies.
• The date that a player can opt out with no penalty is July 7. After that, penalties –no details yet– will be handed down.
• Most people inside the bubble will be tested daily.
• All players must partake in a pre-participation medical exam with their club. The club can determine if a player is unfit to play due to significant risk/exposure to the coronavirus. This applies to Kaapo Kakko.
• Testing positive for the coronavirus is handled as an injury, so players will still be paid.
• Dates are subject to change, for obvious reasons.
• Families cannot join until the conference finals. Guessing as teams are eliminated, they will leave the bubble, which means fewer people. This limits exposure of families.
• Players are not required to wear full shields and coaches will not be required to wear masks during games.

Training camp, which kicks off phase 3 of the NHL Return to Play, is set to begin one week from tomorrow. Phase 4 of the NHL Return to Play is the play-in round and the playoffs. Expect an agreement to be done in short order.