COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/07/21
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 the list for today:
Boston – TBA (previously Jaroslav Halak)
Calgary – TBA
Colorado – TBA
Los Angeles – Matt Roy
Montreal – Joel Armia
Ottawa – Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
St. Louis – TBA
Toronto – William Nylander*
Vancouver – Travis Boyd, Jalen Chatfield, Thatcher Demko, Alexander Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Jayce Hawryluk, Nils Hoglander, Braden Holtby, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, Marc Michaelis, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Antoine Roussel, Brandon Sutter, Jake Virtanen, Nate Schmidt*
Players removed today: None
The Canucks released an update on their situation today, confirming that the team has now reached 25 positive tests among players and coaches. The full statement:
On March 31, the Vancouver Canucks in conjunction with the NHL and BC Health officials postponed a game versus the Calgary Flames and closed Rogers Arena’s team areas following confirmation of three positive COVID-19 test results over a period of two days. All players and staff currently remain in quarantine.
As of today, 25 individuals have tested positive and the source infection is confirmed a variant – full genome sequencing by BCCDC will be required to determine which specific type. Among the 25 positive cases are 21 players (three players from taxi squad) and four members of staff. One additional player is considered a close contact.
An ongoing investigation by Vancouver Coastal Health and club contact tracing staff attributes the source infection to a single individual obtained in a community setting, which has since been identified by public health as a public exposure location. Rapid spread of infection throughout the team indicates a link between contacts and the primary case.
The health and safety of players, staff, families and the greater community remains the utmost priority. The Canucks are grateful for the continued support of local public health officials, the NHL and NHLPA and encourage everyone to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following health orders. COVID-19 infections are rising in BC. This is a stark reminder of how quickly the virus can spread and its serious impact, even among healthy, young athletes.
Schmidt is the newest addition for the Canucks, but Nylander’s presence on the list will be the breaking news from today. The Maple Leafs released a statement explaining that Nylander has had “exposure to a possible positive case with a close contact outside the team.” He is in isolation and will be re-evaluated tomorrow after further testing. Nylander will not play tonight against the Canadiens, but the Maple Leafs will continue as scheduled.
*denotes new addition
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/06/21
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 the list for today:
Boston – Jaroslav Halak
Los Angeles – Matt Roy
Montreal – Joel Armia
Ottawa – Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
Vancouver – Travis Boyd, Jalen Chatfield, Thatcher Demko, Alexander Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Jayce Hawryluk, Nils Hoglander, Braden Holtby, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, Marc Michaelis, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Antoine Roussel, Brandon Sutter, Jake Virtanen*
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
One more name for the Canucks as their list continues to grow and now includes 18 of the team’s 22 active roster players. The team also has two taxi squad players and three coaches affected by the protocol, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. Today in his 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman indicated that April 16 is now the earliest the Canucks could return to play.
*denotes new addition
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/05/21
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 the list for today:
Boston – Jaroslav Halak*
Los Angeles – Matt Roy
Montreal – Joel Armia
Ottawa – Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
Vancouver – Travis Boyd, Jalen Chatfield, Thatcher Demko, Alexander Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Jayce Hawryluk, Braden Holtby, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, Marc Michaelis, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Antoine Roussel, Brandon Sutter, Nils Hoglander*
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: Anton Khudobin, Dallas Stars; Brendan Lemieux, Los Angeles Kings
Just one more name added to the Canucks list, as Hoglander joins the rest of his teammates in the protocol. Things are still shut down for the team and now the league has made a schedule change that indicates Vancouver’s game this weekend is no longer a target. Irfaan Gaffar of the Fourth Period tweets that Canucks players are being told to stay isolated until Sunday, though there has been no official announcement from the league so far.
*denotes new addition
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/04/21
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 the list for today:
Dallas – Anton Khudobin
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux, Matt Roy
Montreal – Joel Armia
Ottawa – Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
Vancouver – Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Alexander Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Jayce Hawryluk, Braden Holtby, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Antoine Roussel, Brandon Sutter, Jalen Chatfield*, Marc Michaelis*
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: Jake Debrusk, Boston Bruins; Eric Staal, Montreal Canadiens
Two more names have been added to the Canucks list, meaning 16 of the 22 players on the active roster are now in the COVID Protocol. There are also taxi squad members and several coaches that have tested positive. Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports that so far, no support staffers have tested positive.
*denotes new addition
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/03/21
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 the list for today:
Boston – Jake DeBrusk
Dallas – Anton Khudobin*
Los Angeles – Brendan Lemieux, Matt Roy*
Montreal – Joel Armia, Eric Staal
Ottawa – Jacob Bernard-Docker*, Shane Pinto*
Vancouver – Alexander Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Braden Holtby, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, Antoine Roussel, Travis Boyd*, Thatcher Demko*, Jayce Hawryluk*, Bo Horvat*, Tyler Motte*, Tyler Myers*, Brandon Sutter*
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: Brandon Hagel, Chicago Blackhawks; Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild
It’s another brutal day for the Canucks, who are up to 14 players now after several more positive test results. As Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic points out, even that number doesn’t include the taxi squad player and three coaches that have also tested positive. Team activities are currently shutdown through April 6, but that certainly seems optimistic at this point. The Canucks next game, scheduled for April 8, is obviously up in the air at this point with so many of their players in the protocol.
Hagel comes off after just one day, but there are a few other new names today including Khudobin, who tested positive for the coronavirus in the offseason. The two young Ottawa players are in the protocol after traveling from the U.S. following their college seasons.
*denotes new addition
Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto
The Ottawa Senators are having a great day in terms of adding to their prospect pool. After Jacob Bernard-Docker signed earlier today, his University of North Dakota teammate Shane Pinto has also inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Senators. Following a quarantine period, Pinto will report directly to the Senators. Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion had this to say on his latest forward:
Shane should be very proud of what was an exceptional collegiate career. He’s a player with a very high work ethic who demonstrates a strong ability to play effectively in all three zones. He was an elite faceoff performer at UND who possesses a great shot, including a deceptive one timer, and a knack for scoring from both in tight and from a distance.
For Pinto, who turned 20 in November, it’s been quite a day. Not only has he signed his first professional contract but he was also named a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist. His college career will come to an end after two outstanding seasons at UND, in which he scored 60 points in 61 games and excelled at the defensive end of the rink.
As for the Senators, this signing has been a year in the making. Ottawa attempted to woo Pinto away from the college game after his freshman campaign, in which the 32nd overall pick in 2019 showed a mature, pro-ready game. The two-way center has an NHL frame at 6’3″ and 200 lbs. and uses his body to check, win puck battles, and provide net front presence, leading to more than a few goals. A player who has dominated at the NCAA and WJC levels, there is little doubt that the Pinto’s two-way game is ready for the pro stage.
Pinto’s signing could cap off what has been an outstanding stretch for the Fighting Hawks program. Pinto and Bernard-Docker have signed with the Senators and teammate Matt Kiersted has joined the Florida Panthers earlier today, while UND leading scorer Jordan Kawaguchi signed on with the Dallas Stars yesterday. With that said, Ottawa is still believed to be talking to 2020 top pick Jake Sanderson, while seniors Collin Adams (NYI) and Grant Mismash (NSH) are expected to turn pro and underclassmen Jasper Weatherby (SJS) and Adam Scheel could be tempted to do so as well. North Dakota’s impressive exodus could still be far from over.
Ottawa Senators Sign Jacob Bernard-Docker
The Ottawa Senators already have an exciting group of young players and today they are adding to that mix. Jacob Bernard-Docker has signed his entry-level contract, ending his college career. Following his seven-day quarantine, the young defenseman will report directly to the Senators. GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement about his newest player:
Jacob represents another key component of our future. He’s very mature for his age and already possesses great gap and stick detail within his game. He’s an exemplary leader and a winner who we’re looking forward to seeing in our lineup.
Bernard-Docker, 20, recently finished his junior season at the University of North Dakota. Signing his three-year entry-level deal means he will abandon his senior season and become a professional, burning the first season of the deal in 2020-21.
Selected 26th overall in 2018, Bernard-Docker isn’t made from the same stuff as so many other highly drafted defensemen. Though his offensive game is fine, and resulted in strong numbers at UND, it is the way he controls a game defensively that will be his calling card at the next level. The winner of the NCHC Best Defensive Defenseman this season, he has shown an elite shutdown ability at the college and international level, using his mobility and a lightning-fast stick to disrupt rushes. Once he does win the puck back, Bernard-Docker is a talented escape artist, quickly moving it out of danger and up to his forwards.
In a perfect world, the right-handed defenseman will become the natural partner for Thomas Chabot, creating an elite pairing for the Senators in the coming years. Expecting that down the stretch might be pushing it, but it does sound like Bernard-Docker will be making his NHL debut fairly soon.