Two Seattle Kraken Enter COVID Protocol
The Seattle Kraken tweeted Sunday evening that forward Ryan Donato and defenseman Vince Dunn entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
They join defensemen Carson Soucy, Adam Larsson, and Jamie Oleksiak on the protocol list for the Kraken.
Dunn’s been Seattle’s most productive defenseman in their inaugural season, posting 12 points through 28 games. Donato’s been fairly productive too after joining the team on a one-year deal, scoring eight goals and 13 points in 28 games.
If they’re confirmed positive tests, they’re likely out for Seattle’s next four games and could return January 5th.
Arizona Coyotes Place Two In COVID Protocol
Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol today, per a team tweet.
They become the fifth and sixth additions to Arizona’s COVID list. Liam O’Brien, Alex Galchenyuk, Jay Beagle, and Lawson Crouse.
Arizona, for the time being, is losing out on some solid defensive presences. Fischer had three goals and three assists through 22 games before entering protocol, and he’s one of the better defensive forwards on the Coyotes, though, and a skilled penalty killer. His presence there will be missed.
Lyubushkin had six assists through 29 games, and while he was averaging just 18:08 per game, he’s a good defender at even-strength.
Fischer and Lyubushkin, if they’re truly COVID positive, are eligible to return January 6 against Chicago if they’re healthy.
Four St. Louis Blues Enter COVID Protocol
Four St. Louis Blues — forwards Dakota Joshua, James Neal, Ivan Barbashev, and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo — have entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, per a team release.
There are now five Blues on the protocol list, joining Oskar Sundqvist on the list.
Barbashev’s been a shocking producer to start the year, going on a tear with 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 31 games. He’d been averaging over 17 minutes a game, too, so his absence can’t be taken lightly.
Joshua, Neal, and Bortuzzo had combined for just 11 points this year, but it’s just more depth missing from a Blues roster that’s been rocked by absences all year.
Barbashev entered protocol on December 23, so he’s eligible to return three days earlier than the other three players. However, due to an open schedule, all four could come back into action on January 5 against Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it seems like all four will be unavailable for the Winter Classic on New Years Day.
Edmonton Oilers Place Zack Kassian In COVID Protocol
The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Zack Kassian in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol today, per a team tweet.
Edmonton also recalled defensemen Philip Broberg and Dmitri Samorukov from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis.
Kassian’s got four goals and eight assists through 25 games this season. He joins Jesse Puljujarvi, Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, and William Lagesson in COVID protocol for the Oilers.
Broberg’s already played in eight NHL games this season, getting his first NHL point (an assist) in the process. Samorukov, however, is slated to make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 84th overall selection in 2017 is in the final year of his entry-level contract and has three points in 15 games with the Condors this year.
Anaheim Ducks Add Two Players, Staff Member To COVID Protocol
The Anaheim Ducks announced via Twitter on Sunday afternoon that left wing Max Comtois, center Sam Steel, and a staff member entered the NHL’s COVID protocol.
Comtois had just been cleared to return to the lineup after missing nearly a month with a hand injury. The 22-year-old Canadian has really struggled to produce offensively this season, garnering only one assist through 14 games.
Steel’s solidified a role in the lineup after some healthy scratches early in the season. The 23-year-old has four goals and four assists in 25 games.
The Ducks previously had no extra healthy skaters on the roster. Expect a series of recalls soon from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.
Comtois and Steel will likely miss Anaheim’s next four games and could return on January 6 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Los Angeles Kings Activate Drew Doughty, Place Two In COVID Protocol
Defenseman Drew Doughty has exited the NHL’s COVID protocol, but the Los Angeles Kings added right wing Dustin Brown and defenseman Olli Maatta to the list today, per a team tweet.
In a corresponding move, the team assigned center Alex Turcotte, their fifth-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, to the taxi squad. Centers Quinton Byfield and Phillip Danault as well as goalie Cal Petersen remain in COVID protocol.
Doughty’s faced multiple injury and health concerns this season, but he’s been extremely productive for the Kings when in the lineup. He’s averaging 24:49 per game and has 13 points through 11 contests, and his return to the lineup will be hotly anticipated.
Brown has just four goals through 30 games and Maatta has struggled to stay in the lineup this year, but it’s still a hit to the Kings’ depth. They’ll likely miss the Kings’ next three games and are eligible to return on January 6 against the Nashville Predators.
New York Rangers Add Three To COVID Protocol
The New York Rangers added defensemen Patrik Nemeth and Ryan Lindgren as well as goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to the NHL’s COVID protocol, the team announced via a tweet Sunday afternoon.
New York was one of the few teams without any players in COVID protocol entering today. With left wing Artemi Panarin and defensemen Nils Lundkvist currently unavailable, expect multiple recalls from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack prior to the Rangers’ next game — if it happens. Their next scheduled contest is on December 29 against the Florida Panthers, who placed four players into COVID protocol today.
Lindgren and Nemeth had combined for just six points this year, but Lindgren’s been an integral piece of the Rangers defense on a pairing with superstar Adam Fox. He’s averaging 20:20 per game and leads the team in +/-. Nemeth has been solid enough in a third-pairing role as well.
Georgiev had struggled between the pipes to begin the season but was on a recent heater with more starts due to Igor Shesterkin‘s injury. He’s worked his way back up to a .902 save percentage on the year.
Nemeth, Lindgren, and Georgiev will be out for the Rangers’ next four games. If healthy, they’ll be eligible to return to the lineup on January 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Philadelphia Flyers Add Sean Couturier, Ryan Ellis To COVID Protocol
The Philadelphia Flyers announced Sunday that center Sean Couturier was placed in the NHL’s COVID protocol on December 21, while defenseman Ryan Ellis and two staff members entered protocol today.
There are now five Flyers skaters in COVID protocol, joining forwards Kevin Hayes, Morgan Frost, and Max Willman.
Couturier, after hovering near a point-per-game pace for the last three seasons, has just six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 29 games this year (0.59 points per game). Despite that, he’s still averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game and is steady as ever defensively.
Ellis was already out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, but was expected to return around the holiday break. Injuries have limited him to just four games this season, his first with the Flyers after arriving via trade from the Nashville Predators.
Couturier will miss the next two of Philadelphia’s games and could be eligible to return on New Years Day against the Los Angeles Kings. Ellis, as he was just added today, will miss more time. If healthy, he could return on January 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, missing the team’s next four games at the least.
2021 Spengler Cup Cancelled Due To COVID-19
The 2021 Spengler Cup won’t be taking place due to COVID-19 cases affecting teams within the tournament, per The Hockey News’ Steven Ellis.
The tournament was set to begin tomorrow, December 26th. A severe number of cases today within the NL’s HC Davos organization, the hosts of the tournament, forced the cancellation after the Canadian national squad and HC Ambri-Piotta (NL) also backed out.
The Spengler Cup is the world’s oldest invitational hockey tournament, including six teams every year including Team Canada and HC Davos. This year, Frolunda HC (SHL), HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovak Extraliga), KalPa (Liiga), HC Sparta Praha (Czech Extraliga), and the Bern Selects were also scheduled to participate.
It’s the second straight year that the tournament has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
NHL Extends Holiday Break, Postpones December 27th Games
The NHL announced per a tweet Friday evening that all games scheduled to take place on Monday, December 27 are postponed in order to provide for adequate COVID-19 testing results after teams return from the holiday break.
Teams are still permitted to return to practice on Sunday, December 26.
There were 14 games scheduled to happen on Monday. Only the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning are unaffected by these postponements.
The league said in their press release today that a further update on their return to play plans will come on Sunday. If an additional rash of positive tests come in that weekend, it’s exceedingly likely that further postponements will happen.
50 games had already been postponed this year, bringing the total number of postponements to 64.