I just read your local media reports stating we now have six Penguins in the NHL revised Covid protocol as of late today. Teddy Blueger, Tristan Jarry, John Marino, Mike Matheson, Evan Rodrigues and Dominik Simon are now ineligible to play. Jake Guentzel and Jason Zucker are out for unrelated health issues. Around the league the same thing is happening.
In Colorado, the NHL announced today that because of Covid the Avalanche will have seven games to make up. Since December 16, reports say they’ve had 11 different players under Covid protocol. Six currently remain.
In Toronto, GM Kyle Dubas updated the Maple Leafs’ Covid-19 situation yesterday as follows: “All told, the (Toronto) Marlies had 24 players and five staff test positive for Covid-19, and the Leafs had 14 players and seven staff members.”
In Montreal, goalie Jake Allen and defencemen Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson, Jeff Petry and Chris Wideman were added to the list before the Canadiens practiced Monday morning in Brossard, joining forwards Laurent Dauphin, Mike Hoffman, Artturi Lehkonen and Tyler Toffoli, who were all already on the list. Upping their total to nine players.
Full list of NHL players and staff currently in protocol (date entered in brackets):
Arizona Coyotes: Lawson Crouse (Dec. 16), Jay Beagle (Dec. 16), Alex Galchenyuk (Dec. 17), Liam O’Brien (Dec. 20), Christian Fischer (Dec. 26), Ilya Lybushkin (Dec. 26)
Boston Bruins: Oskar Steen (Dec. 16), Taylor Hall (Dec. 18, Brandon Carlo (Dec. 21), Charlie Coyle (Dec. 26)
Buffalo Sabres: Vinnie Hinostroza (Dec. 20), Zemgus Girgensons (Dec. 21), Dylan Cozens (Dec. 26), Mark Jankowski (Dec. 26), Don Granato (head coach, Dec. 26)
Calgary Flames: Dan Vladar (Dec. 21)
Carolina Hurricanes: Brendan Smith (Dec. 20), Frederik Andersen (Dec. 22), Jesper Fast (Dec. 23)
Chicago Blackhawks: Marc-Andre Fleury (Dec. 27)
Colorado Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen (Dec. 26), Nazem Kadri (Dec. 26), Logan O’Connor (Dec/ 26), Kurtis MacDermid (Dec. 26), Pavel Francouz (Dec. 26)
Columbus Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner (Dec. 19), Jack Roslovic (Dec. 19), Gabriel Carlsson (Dec. 19), Eric Robinson (Dec. 20), Andrew Peeke (Dec. 20), Joonas Korpisalo (Dec. 20)
Dallas Stars: Jani Hakanpaa (Dec. 24), Radek Faksa (Dec. 26), Miro Heiskanen (Dec. 26), Joel Kiviranta (Dec. 26), Michael Raffl (Dec. 26), Jason Robertson (Dec. 26)
Detroit Red Wings: Givani Smith (Dec. 18), Carter Rowney (Dec. 18), Alex Nedeljkovic (Dec. 18), Jeff Blashill (head coach, Dec. 18), Alex Tanguay (assistant coach, Dec. 18), Filip Zadina (Dec. 18), Sam Gagner (Dec. 19), Pius Suter (Dec. 19), Joe Veleno (Dec. 19), Jeff Weintraub (video assistant coach, Dec. 19), Adam Erne (Dec. 21), Jordan Oesterle (Dec. 21), Lucas Raymond (Dec. 26), Nick Leddy (Dec. 26)
Edmonton Oilers: Duncan Keith (Dec. 17), Jesse Puljujarvi (Dec. 18), William Lagesson (Dec. 20), Darnell Nurse (Dec. 20), Zack Kassian (Dec. 26)
Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau (Dec. 26), Eetu Luostarinen (Dec. 26), Owen Tippett (Dec. 26), MacKenzie Weegar (Dec. 26)
Los Angeles Kings: Cal Petersen (Dec. 18), Phillip Danault (Dec. 19), Quinton Byfield (Dec. 21), Dustin Brown (Dec. 26), Olli Maatta (Dec. 26)
Montreal Canadiens: Artturi Lehkonen (Dec. 18), Laurent Dauphin (Dec. 19), Mike Hoffman (Dec. 20), Tyler Toffoli (Dec. 27), Jake Allen (Dec. 27), Ben Chiarot (Dec. 27), Joel Edmundson (Dec. 27), Jeff Petry (Dec. 27), Chris Wideman (Dec. 27)
Nashville Predators: Ryan Johansen (Dec. 12), Mikael Granlund (Dec. 15), Matt Luff (Dec. 15), Michael McCarron (Dec. 15), Philip Tomasino (Dec. 15), Ben Harpur (Dec. 15), John Hynes (head coach, Dec. 15), Nick Cousins (Dec. 16) Dan Lambert (assistant coach, Dec. 15), Todd Richards (assistant coach, Dec. 15), Ben Vanderklok (goaltending coach, Dec, 15), Dan Hinote (assistant coach, Dec. 16), Mark Borowiecki (Dec. 17)
New Jersey Devils: Tomas Tatar (Dec. 26), Jon Gillies (Dec. 26)
New York Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier (Dec. 26), Cal Clutterbuck (Dec. 26), Zach Parise (Dec. 26) and Oliver Wahlstrom (Dec. 26)
New York Rangers: Patrik Nemeth (Dec. 18), Alexandar Georgiev (Dec. 27), Ryan Lindgren (Dec. 27), Jarred Tiordi (Dec. 27)
Ottawa Senators: Davis Payne (assistant coach, Dec. 20), Filip Gustavsson (Dec. 21), D.J. Smith (head coach, Dec. 21), Mike King (video coach, Dec. 21), Anton Forsberg (Dec. 27) — The Senators have also added three members of the support staff to protocol
Philadelphia Flyers: Morgan Frost (Dec. 14), Kevin Hayes (Dec. 20), Sean Couturier (Dec. 21), Ryan Ellis (Dec. 26), Derick Brassard (Dec. 27), Carter Hart (Dec. 27), Scott Laughton (Dec. 27)
San Jose Sharks: Brent Burns (Dec. 17), Jonathan Dahlen (Dec. 20), Tomas Hertl (Dec. 20), Jasper Weatherby (Dec. 22)
Seattle Kraken: Jamie Oleksiak (Dec. 18), Carson Soucy (Dec. 19), Adam Larsson (Dec. 20), Vince Dunn (Dec. 26), Ryan Donato (Dec. 26), Mason Appleton (Dec. 27)
St. Louis Blues: Oskar Sundqvist (Dec. 18), Ivan Barbashev (Dec. 23), Robert Bortuzzo (Dec. 26), Dakota Joshua (Dec. 26), James Neal (Dec. 26)
Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper (head coach, Dec. 21), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Dec. 26), Mikhail Sergachev (Dec. 26), Andrei Vasilevskiy (Dec. 26), Brian Elliott (Dec. 26), Rob Zettler (assistant coach, Dec. 26)
Toronto Maple Leafs: Alexander Kerfoot (Dec. 17), Jason Spezza (Dec. 17), Wayne Simmonds (Dec. 17), Jack Campbell (Dec. 18), T.J. Brodie (Dec. 18), Travis Dermott (Dec. 18), Sheldon Keefe (head coach, Dec. 18), Spencer Carbery (assistant coach, Dec. 18), David Kämpf (Dec. 21), Ilya Mikheyev (Dec. 21), Petr Mrázek (Dec. 21), Rasmus Sandin (Dec. 21), Steve Briere (goaltending coach, Dec. 21), Morgan Rielly (Dec. 23), William Nylander (Dec. 24), Jake Muzzin (Dec. 26) — The Maple Leafs have also placed four members of the team’s support staff in protocol
Vancouver Canucks: Alex Chiasson (Dec. 26)
Vegas Golden Knights: Evgenii Dadonov (Dec. 21), Alex Pietrangelo (Dec. 21), Brett Howden (Dec. 27), Peter DeBoer (head coach, Dec. 27)
Washington Capitals: Evgeny Kuznetsov (Dec. 15), Nicklas Backstrom (Dec. 17), T.J. Oshie (Dec. 19)
Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Copp (Dec. 23), Kristian Vesalainen (Dec. 23) — The Jets have also placed one staff member in protocol
NOTE: List updated as of 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 27.
This could become an even bigger problem as we move forward into 2022. Every game that gets postponed makes it that much harder to make them all up. Many NHL teams do not own their home arenas and therefore must share their facility with other teams and events, making it difficult if not impossible to reschedule a large number of makeup games. A problem we face as a league and as a team.
The elephant in the room is the Canadian Government. The biggest difference between the NHL and other sports is the heavy travel between the United States and Canadian border. Canada’s health officials and Prime Minister are much stricter than officials in the United States. The NHL and NHLPA realize changes to testing would be a non-starter for health officials in Canada, so they continue to deal as best they can with the guidance in front of them.
According to reports, revenues from the large Canadian TV contract will pay each NHL team $10 million+ annually and the NHL and NHLPA as well. Profits too large to ignore.
Indeed, Pittsburgh we may have a problem.
Thanks for reading. Let’s go Pens!!
Some good news.
UP DATE. NHL reduces number 0f days in Covid quarantine from 10 to 5 days with conditions.
The NHL COVID Protocol Press Release:
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today a modification to their COVID-19 Protocol. The modification will reduce the isolation period after a positive test from 10 days to five days for fully vaccinated Players who meet the required conditions. It also applies to fully vaccinated Hockey Operations staff, including coaches. The change was made in response to the new isolation guidelines for COVID-positive individuals issued on Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the changes apply on a League-wide basis, all personnel will still have to comply with the applicable health and safety regulations in their jurisdictions, including the Federal and Provincial COVID health and safety mandates in Canada, which may be more restrictive than the Protocol.
Specifics of the changes to the Protocol after a positive test include:
Isolate for five days;
If the individual has a fever, continue to isolate until their fever resolves;
If the individual has no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving after five days, they can leave isolation and return to practices and games, provided the following conditions are met:
A lab-based PCR test that is negative, or a lab-based PCR test that has a CT value >30, or two negative molecular point of care tests collected >2 hours apart; and,
Medical clearance from the individual’s Club physician; and,
Such exit is permitted by their local health authority.
The individual shall continue to always wear a mask around others for five additional days, other than for practices and games.
All other aspects of the Protocol remain in place.
The NHL’s and NHLPA’s medical experts will re-evaluate these measures on or before Jan. 12.
This is good news for US based teams…Canada has yet to respond. It remains the same.
Hey all,
This has nothing to do with Jim’s article. But I can’t resist squirting a little gasoline on a potential fire. (Yes, I’m an instigator … 🙂
The “Tribune Review” published an article titled, “Evgeni Malkin still believes the Penguins are Stanley Cup contenders.”
To quote Geno, “This year, I think we have still a chance to play (in the Stanley Cup Final) for sure. I’m (happy) with what I see on our team. I hope I give more power (to) this group.”
Of course I’m baiting the hook for Geno’s stanchest defender and biggest fan, Other Rick. What say ye OTR??? … 🙂
Rick
Your playing with fire Rick…haha
You aren’t squirting fire on any gasoline Rick,
First and foremost Rick, I am a Penguin fan not a single player fan. I do not put any player above the team. Second, I hate to lose. To that end, I always look at myself critically or the team I am following critically and evaluate strengths and weaknesses as honestly as I can. Since I don’t place any player above the team, I don’t have biases when I look at them. If I was a Geno fan first, I wouldn’t have written just a few short days ago that I would trade the Russian if he didn’t take a team friendly deal. When I defend the big Center, I don’t do it as a fan I do it to counter the people who do play favorites. 71 has been the 3rd best offensive force among forwards over the past 3 seasons 5 on 5, that is a fact. The objective numbers show that. If a person refuses to see that, they are choosing personal bias over reality. (and also why I would still be willing to give Malkin $6 million for up to 3 more seasons – with his age being the reason I would do more than that)
When you try and “bait” me Rick, you just show one more reason why the team needs the big man. No player worth his salt would ever acknowledge that the team can’t win the Stanley Cup. I would not want a player like that on my team. I want them to believe in themselves and the team. It is like the Tennyson poem “Charge of the Light Brigade” about the Crimean War. It is about morale. No matter how hopeless it may seem you try.
Even the decision makers within the Organization need to espouse that mantra to the media. However, the decision makers need to look at the club honestly and critically and make decisions based on reality not media spin. when the trade deadline approaches start selling off Letangs, Zuckers, Rusts, Kapanens, and if you can Mathesons to teams whose decision makers aren’t looking at reality but dreaming of what the wish was true and buying players that either aren’t worth what they are making now or won’t be worth what they may ask for in the off-season. – and hopefully in JR/Vancouvers case overpaying for what they are buying.
While I am writing, I might as well add one more prospect to my list of potential draftees that I am currently watching, Matvei Michkov. He just turned 17 a couple of days ago, so he isn’t eligible for this coming draft, nor does he have the size I would covet (at least not yet, maybe he can grow a little more) but the highlights I watched were interesting to say the least. He started the year off in the MHL and was lighting it up but he has since moved to the KHL and playing with men he has slowed a bit in his scoring.
Hey Jim,
Looks like the IIHF may have cancelled their tournament.
Hey Coach
I see TSN announced it as well. Cancelled. Reports from Alberta and Hockey Canada suggest they may try to play the Tournament later in the year. Some said maybe in 2 months ..Not sure if that is possible.
The tournament is a nice stage to get a peak at some kids but this point, to try and reorganize it seems stupid. The IIHF dropped the ball, they can’t get it back this year so I say let it go.
Agreed Coach.
FYI Guys.. NHL Update as of 2.15 am AST….
Thank Goodness tonight the NHL went back to work on a limited basis. But at least we are open for business.
Tampa beat Montreal 5-4 in overtime.
Vegas beat LA 6-3.
San Jose beat Arizona 8-7 in a shoot out.
This is indeed great news for the League and the Penguins as well..
Cheers
Hey Jim,
The reality is, hockey doesn’t exist in a bubble. As you once again point out, there are many moving parts that a good GM needs to keep his eye on, while navigating thru the maze of a season. As I was digesting your writing, I couldn’t help but think about the Coyotes. If this round of COVID causes further revenue loss, how will that team survive? They already can’t pay their lease.
Lots of food for thought here. Thanks for the digging Jim.
Go Pens!!!
Your welcome Coach…
I wish I had your statistics my friend. You know a lot about this game… Both on the ice and off. It shows in your writings.
Regarding Arizona that is a shit storm waiting to happen. They have no home.They can not pay their bills and
if we are not careful the league will have to step in Again. If it was me running this league I would move the team back to Quebec next September, with 22,000 fans sold out every night and at least they would have a fighting chance.Bury the hatchet between the back room boys in the NHL and the Quebec ownership group. Move on.
If not, Maybe when Austin Matthews becomes a UFA in 2 -3 years then he will move back to the desert and they can build a team around him.
Time will tell
Cheers .
I wouldn’t be upset seeing Quebec get a team back. Besides, I don’t think Az can wait that long for Matthews. I am not sure, Wright can right that ship. I would hate to see him saddled with having to save that franchise. It will be hard enough coming into the league without having that onus dumped on your back. Sorry, Az. fans, regardless of where you finish, I hope for the league’s sake you don’t win the lottery.
Agreed Coach.
Hello Jim.
Great to have you writing again. Thanks for doing the leg work on this. Sheesh…that’s an incredible number of players and staff in protocol!
From the little I understand about the Omicron variant, it isn’t as serious as the original virus but it’s extremely contagious.
Haven’t a clue as to how the league should proceed on this.
Rick
Thanks Rick,Very much appreciate the opportunity to write again.
It will take a little while to find my voice but I am looking forward to it.Hopefully i won’t make to many blunders.
With regards to this Covid surge,I am worried that some World leaders may go to extreme to make a name for themselves Globally and if they were to shut down the season I am concerned of the consequences that would occur.
It could happen so quickly…in a week’s time…We would have very little warning .
So I continue to pray for all the best for the entire NHL in 2022. For me May can not come fast enough.
cheers
JIM
Rick
I think it’s time to take the approach “Next man up” You continue to play games and fill out your rosters
the best way possible. This new variant seems to be trending more like the flu – teams in the past have
been decimated by the flu but continued to play their games. I think until we know differently about
this new wave of Covid we should proceed with caution but proceed.
I look forward to your feedback. Hope you had a great Xmas.