NHL's COVID-19 list nearing 50 players amidst breakout
It’s been a crushing wave.
COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the NHL, with 15 of 32 member clubs having at least one player in the protocol as of Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, NHL teams and players were notified of enhanced protocols until January 7, according to Elliotte Friedman. Measures include restrictions on indoor dining while on the road, masking and social distancing while in club facilities, and daily testing.
Presence of Omicron variant is confirmed. Players are also recommended to get a booster, if eligible.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 15, 2021
In all, 49 players are currently in COVID protocol, including 16 members of the Calgary Flames. Just six of 20 players in the lineup for Calgary against the Boston Bruins last Saturday are not currently on the protocol list.
The Flames also have three coaches and eight staff members in the protocol.
7 players have entered the NHLâs COVID-19 Protocol: Rasmus Andersson, Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Erik Gudbranson, Trevor Lewis, Jacob Markstrom, Tyler Pitlick. 3 coaches are in protocol: Ryan Huska, Kirk Muller, Darryl Sutter. 7 support staff are also in protocol.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 15, 2021
In all, over 60 players, coaches and staff members are in protocol league-wide.
The Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes, the last two teams to play in Calgary, have three and six players respectively under the protocol. The Nashville Predators have six players and four coaches currently in the protocol, while two additional staff members are also in the protocol.
Ten games have been postponed this season due to COVID protocols, including four for the Flames. Calgary originally had three games postponed before a fourth was added Wednesday afternoon.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHL delays @NHLFlamesâ return to play; Saturdayâs game vs. @BlueJacketsNHL postponed. https://t.co/m1DTKLjRZc pic.twitter.com/cHVumGrnW8
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 15, 2021
The NHL also postponed Tuesday’s game between Carolina and the Minnesota Wild after Hurricanes’ skaters Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Ian Cole, and Steven Lorentz were placed on the COVID-19 list. Two other Hurricanes players are currently quarantining in Vancouver, where the team played on Sunday.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported yesterday there’s “no plan” for the league to take an extended pause to let the COVID-19 situation in the league die down.