The National Hockey League (NHL) announced plans yesterday to allow small groups of players, no more than six, to gather for workouts in early June, with an eye toward restarting play and resuming its coronavirus-halted season.

A league memo did not say when in early June this “Phase 2”  would begin or how long it would last before games are actually played.

Phase 3 would be a full training camp and Phase 4 the playing of actual games.

Players and club owners have agreed to the framework of a 24-team playoff system.