Dec 15: Given that there are more than two dozen members of the organization now in the protocol, the Flames’ game on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets has also been postponed. The team’s practice facilities are also going to be closed until further notice.
Dec 13: The NHL has shut down a third team this season, postponing all Calgary Flames games through Thursday, December 16. The decision comes after six players and one staff member entered the COVID protocol during a 24-hour period. The league notes “concern with continued spread” and the likelihood of further positive test results led to the postponement. Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and a member of the team’s training staff are those in the protocol.
Calgary’s training facilities have been closed for the time being. The team was set to take on the Chicago Blackhawks this evening, the Nashville Predators tomorrow night, and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, three games that will have to be rescheduled for later this season.
The Flames follow the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators who have also seen COVID-related postponements, though they weren’t the only ones with serious outbreaks. The San Jose Sharks at one point had seven players in the protocol and were forced to continue their season, while the St. Louis Blues have played shorthanded several times because of COVID absences that they didn’t have cap space to replace.
The cap very well could be part of the decision-making in this case as well. Calgary is currently pushed right up to the salary cap ceiling, with less than $1MM in room for recalls. They could perhaps fill one of those six absences with a call-up, but not six, meaning the Flames would be seriously shorthanded had the league not stepped in. While this certainly may not be of comfort to teams like the Sharks, Islanders, and Senators, who were all forced to play with several minor league replacements for a while, it also could be something the league wants to avoid moving forward.
One of the biggest questions now is that of Olympic participation. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put the decision squarely on the NHLPA’s shoulders when he spoke last week, but still maintained the option to pull the plug himself if the season experiences a “material disruption” of its schedule. The Flames by themselves likely don’t represent that, but the more games that have to be rescheduled due to COVID outbreaks, the more difficult an Olympic break becomes.
Get all your shots. Mask up.
Don’t forget your monthly booster shot.
And don’t forget to salute your overlords
You have to double mask. Just one doesn’t work.
Jab, jab, jab!!!
You forgot: six feet apart and wash your hands!
So in a sense the Flames are being rewarded for having questionable cap management. I am far from a salary cap expert but that seems horribly unfair to the other teams that had to recall players and play, as well as to the teams whose games with the Flames are now postponed.
It’s literally over 1/3rd of their roster
13th at Chicago
14th. at Nashville
16th Home vs. Toronto
18th Home vs, Columbus * if necessary for Flames schedule
Just think how bad this could have been if they all were not jabbed
Or, it would’ve made no difference, especially considering the age and health of the players. But Big Pharma needs more $$$!
This is such bs the sharks had to play there games with half a roster. Make them play the games keep it fair. The sharks played without 5 of there 6 defensemen, no head coach, and several star players out
As I’ve said before, if the league were going use the protocols that they have, then they should’ve used the same divisional format they had last season. They’ve created a mess for themselves now.
…. and this further makes since for USA and Canada, and a lot of other countries not to particiapate in Olympics in China. Great update on that issue by Elliotte Friedman #TawainHockey
link to youtube.com
Couple details not included in the story:
1) Flames were boarded on their charter on Sunday to head to Chicago, but chose to stay in Calgary overnight because they had 3 positives already.
2) Because of policies with the border if anyone else tested positive they would have had to stay quarantined in Chicago for 10 days, that is why the Flames management decided to stay home for one more day. Incase anyone else tested positive. this way they could stay home with family/roommates instead of alone in a hotel room for the quarantine. Respectful move.
DEAR GOD MAKE IT STOP
Unlikely. I’ve been telling people to brace themselves for the notion that this is endemic: COVID is not just going to magically go away because we’re all tired of it. It’s not just that so many people have contracted it: one in *four hundred* Americans so far have died of it. Masks, restrictions and distancing are going to be with us for a good long time, and either we live with that or accept that the “freedom” that the cementheads are pushing is going to kill a lot of people.
(And not just from COVID — all manner of medical procedures across the board are being pushed back weeks or months because hospital ICUs are overwhelmed with COVID patients.)
Keep watching CNN and getting scared on a daily basis.
@dodger: I’m good, thanks for the offer though.
Plan and simple no NHL players to China if they do they will bring back something with them..
Olympic participation isn’t going to happen.