The NHL keeps moving forward to a relaunch, with a Phase 3 date set for July 10. This, of course, assumes there are no issues that arise from Phase 2, which started last week. Phase 3 is the reopening of training camps for all teams in the 24 team playoffs. It is expected training camp will last three weeks, if the pandemic will allow it. Phase 4, the playoffs, would begin at that time, around August 1.
If that’s the case, then the qualifying round (best of five) would take about a week, with the true first round likely beginning on August 8.