The is reportedly aiming to start a 52- or 56-game schedule in mid-January, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.
Per that report:
"The NHL's initial target of Jan. 1 became unfeasible because of necessary time for training camp—plus extra time promised to the seven teams that did not make this summer's expanded playoff field—as well as quarantine protocols in some markets. As of Thursday, NHL players had yet to receive any official directive of when they are supposed to report back to their playing cities."
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.