from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The Red Wings' regular season is done and they can now prepare for the draft lottery.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday the league will return sometime after July to a 24-team playoff format — the top 12 teams from each of the Eastern and Western conferences playing in two hub cities that are yet to be determined.

Bettman set no exact dates for a return.

With no regular season to resume, general manager Steve Yzerman can now officially prepare for the offseason and issues to tackle, with the future of coach Jeff Blashill chief among them.

As for the draft lottery, it will take place June 26, the date of the original Entry Draft was expected to take place.

To be sure, it's a complicated process.

more