The NHL will allow teams to reopen facilities for informal workouts beginning Oct. 15, the league announced on Thursday.
The skates will be strictly voluntary and will provide players the opportunity to work on their conditioning prior to the start of training camp. There is still no official start date for training camps.
Teams will be required to reopen their facilities within seven days of receiving notice from at least five players who wish to use the facility for offseason training.
The informal skates will be run in a similar manner to the informal skates as part of Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan. The skates will be player-only, and non-contact. Only 12 people will be permitted to be on the ice at one time.
Players must maintain social distancing, and will be tested regularly while using the facilities. As was the case with the last training camps, teams will not be permitted to release information on any positive coronavirus tests within the team.
The skates will remain closed to media and fans.