Yesterday, the NHL announced enhanced COVID-19 protocols through the Holiday season and the New Year. The new measures are similar to the protocols which were imposed during the 2020-21 regular season, including daily COVID-19 testing, using masks inside team facilities, and maintaining physical distance during meals. The new measures will be re-evaluated no later than January 7, 2022.
The @NHL and @NHLPA announced today the immediate adoption of enhanced COVID-19 measures.
These enhanced measures will remain in effect through the Holiday season and the New Year, and will be re-evaluated no later than Jan. 7, 2022.
Full text: https://t.co/kcjziKo2nJ pic.twitter.com/ZOebBUm1zL
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 18, 2021
The reason behind this decision is the increasing number of COVID-19 cases within the league over the last week. Currently there are more than 100 players and staff members in COVID-19 protocols and the number is rapidly increasing.
Yesterday the NHL shut down the Nashville Predators and the Boston Bruins through the holidays, becoming the fourth and the fifth team respectively to be shut down for the next week. They joined the Calgary Flames, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers, who have been shut down previously.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHLBruins, @PredsNHL shut down through Holiday Break; three additional games also postponed.
Details: https://t.co/NrfDn0VdNy pic.twitter.com/unKlyrNCip
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 18, 2021
The league also postponed yesterday’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks after the Leafs placed several players and staff members, including their head coach Sheldon Keefe and goaltender Jack Campbell, on COVID protocol. Tonight’s game against the Seattle Kraken and the Arizona Coyotes has been postponed too.
The Maple Leafs have placed defenceman TJ Brodie, goaltender Jack Campbell, defenceman Travis Dermott, head coach Sheldon Keefe and assistant coach Spencer Carbery into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 18, 2021
The Detroit Red Wings have also placed their head coach Jeff Blashill, an assistant coach and three players in COVID-19 protocol on Saturday and brought in the Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Ben Simon and assistant Todd Krygier to be behind the Red Wings’ behcn during the yesterday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are also missing P.K. Subban, who entered the COVID-19 protocol.
The Detroit Red Wings placed coach Jeff Blashill, an assistant coach and three players in COVID-19 protocol on Saturday.
They will bring in coaches from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to help manage Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.
More: https://t.co/X3USEIPvsp
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) December 18, 2021
Per Elliotte Friedman the league discussed a shutdown until January 1 and resuming with the Winter Classic, but there’s no consensus on that question as there’s no guarantee that the situation will be better in two weeks.
HNIC 32 Thoughts — As you can imagine, a lot on COVID. Other notes: players/teams not thrilled about border crossings before Christmas; and when it comes to new NFL regulations, there’s a realization Canadian government wouldn’t accept it right now https://t.co/bZkprhYNsu
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 19, 2021
Yesterday the NFL announced that they will stop testing asymptomatic and double-vaccinated players for COVID-19, but according to Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease specialist with Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ontario, it’s too early for the NHL. (Vaccinated and asymptomatic people who get COVID might have a light case and a shorter infectious period, but can still infect other people who might be more at risk.)
While the NFL is planning to stop testing asymptomatic players for COVID-19, @TorontoIDDoc says it’s too early for the NHL to adopt a similar policy. https://t.co/Lc71QyF8fZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 19, 2021
Speaking of the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite yesterday’s postponement of the game against the Colorado Avalanche, the team has not been directly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak within the league and have not placed any player in the protocol so far. Reportedly the Lightning are one of the first teams in the league who offered booster shots to their players.
Elliotte mentions in here that Tampa Bay is one of the first teams to get their booster shots – which Steven Stamkos alluded to a few days ago. Will be an interesting few days to keep an eye on https://t.co/UNBIb66lOu
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) December 19, 2021
