I'm bored. So I re-imagined a playoffs where the season re-started on May 1 that gets things done prior to July 1. If the league is looking into contingency plans that push these dates to the end of July, theoretically the season may not be officially ended until June - this entire process could only take two months.
May 1 - training camp opens, players recalled.
Relegation Round: Best of 3 series starting May 8
Game 1: May 8 & 9
Game 2: May 10 & 11
Game 3*: May 12 & 13
For clarification, the relegation round would be based off points percentage. The teams ranked in the two wild card spots, and the two spots immediately below the wild card in each conference.
Relegation 1: #7 vs #10 seed
Relegation 2: #8 vs. #9 seed
Round 1: best of 3 series starting May 15
Game 1: May 15 & 16
Game 2: May 17 & 18
Game 3*: May 19 & 20
This would be 1 vs. relegation 2 and 2 vs. relegation 1, and the two divisional matchups.
Round 2: best of 5 series starting May 22
Game 1: May 22 & 23
Game 2: May 24 & 25
Game 3: May 26 & 27
Game 4*: May 28 & 29
Game 5*: May 29 & 30
Round 3: Best of 7 series starting June 1
Game 1: June 1
Game 2: June 2
Game 3: June 4
Game 4: June 5
Game 5*: June 7
Game 6*: June 9
Game 7*: June 11
Round 4: Best of 7 Series starting June 13
Game 1: June 13
Game 2: June 14
Game 3: June 16
Game 4: June 17
Game 5*: June 19
Game 6*: June 21
Game 7*: June 23
NHL Awards: June 26
NHL Draft: June 27