NEW YORK/TORONTO (July 6, 2020) - The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and National Hockey League (NHL) today announced the frameworks that will govern Players and Clubs in Phase 3 (formal training camps) and Phase 4 (resumption of competition). The Protocols will come into effect only upon ratification of the CBA by the NHLPA and NHL.

The NHL Phased Return to Sport Protocol is attached in its entirety for both Phase 3 and Phase 4.

To view the plan for Phase 3, click here.

To view the plan for Phase 4, click here.

NEW YORK/TORONTO (July 6, 2020) - The National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) have reached a tentative agreement on a Return to Play Plan and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that adds an additional four years to the term of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and includes transition rules and a new critical dates calendar. As part of the tentative agreement, the following dates have been established: July 13 - Start of formal training camps; July 26 - Clubs travel to hub cities; August 1 - Start of Qualifying Round. The tentative agreement is now subject to approval by the NHL's Board of Governors, as well as the NHLPA's Executive Board followed by the full NHLPA membership. The respective review and approval processes will take place over the next few days and there will be no further comment until those processes are completed.

With training camps set to begin on July 13 as part of Phase 3 of the NHL Return to Play Plan, NHL.com is taking a closer look at each of the 24 teams in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Today, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It is no secret that the number of positive COVID-19 cases have risen sharply across the United States in general, and here in Allegheny County in particular over the past several days. Which means that staying safe both at and away from the rink must remain a high priority for the Pittsburgh Penguins as the players continue to participate in Phase 2 of the NHL's Return to Play plan at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Midway through his virtual media availability with local reporters on Wednesday morning, head coach Mike Sullivan provided an update that is sure to excite the Penguins' fan base:

"To my knowledge, everybody's (at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex participating in Phase 2) right now," Sullivan said. "The last player to arrive was Patric Hornqvist, who's going through the quarantine and testing protocol that the league has mandated. But right now, we have our full complement of players in Pittsburgh."

Following the First Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery on Friday, NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman, Mike G. Morreale and Guillaume Lepage make their predictions for how the first eight selections of the 2020 NHL Draft could turn out.

Bill Daly stood in a TV studio in Secaucus, New Jersey, to announce the results of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery on Friday. The NHL Deputy Commissioner held a square blue card with a white "1" on it.

The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft will be determined by the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery after the results of the First Phase on Friday.

Wedding photos courtesy of Kukucka Photography.

Going to a Penguins hockey game can be a magical experience. If you had asked me what my 'happy place' was as a kid, I may have told you it was eating nachos with my family at the Igloo. Whether you're a little kid shoving your face with nacho cheese, an adult dissecting every second of the game, or an adult dissecting every second of the game while also shoveling down nacho cheese, being at a Penguins game is something special. It's a community of hockey fans banding together to support their team. As Mike Lange always says, 'you've got to be here to believe it'.

That's why the story I'm about to tell you is going to tug at your heartstrings.

The NHL will hold the first phase of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery on Friday (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBSCN, SN, TVAS).