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:
Colorado – Devan Dubnyk
St. Louis – Jake Walman
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov
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
Despite the Blues originally believing that Walman was in the protocol due to a false positive, they released this statement today:
After additional testing, it has been confirmed that Jake Walman has tested positive for COVID-19. Walman, who has been vaccinated, will now fall under the NHL/NHLPA quarantine protocols. Per the NHL/NHLPA agreement, the League will provide all updates.
A positive test result for Walman likely means that he will be unavailable for at least two weeks. He will not be in the Blues’ lineup when they face the Wild tonight or tomorrow, nor when they open the playoffs in the coming days.
Kuznetsov remains in the protocol for his ninth day and it is unclear whether he will be cleared in time for Washington’s series opener against Boston on Saturday. At the very least, he will have not played in a game since May 1. Teammate Ilya Samsonov was also put into the protocol, but since he is on the taxi squad does not need to appear on this list. It will not be clear that he has been removed until he arrives at practice with the Capitals, or the team releases the information.
*denotes new addition