Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is today’s list:
Anaheim – Adam Henrique
Calgary – Josh Leivo
New Jersey – P.K. Subban, Jonas Siegenthaler
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: None
The NHL will take days like this, with no one added and no one removed. Henrique hasn’t been joined by any other Ducks, while Leivo remains the only Flames player several days after his original addition.
As Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes, teams around the league were told that there will be serious consequences for any postseason COVID outbreaks that result from not following protocols. That could even include the forfeiture of a series, something that would be a disaster for everyone involved. Hopefully, nothing like that occurs as we move into the Stanley Cup playoffs in the coming weeks.
*denotes new addition
At this point, with players getting vaccinated and numbers going down, I would be shocked to see the numbers skyrocket.