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Before the puck dropped on the 2021 NHL season, the league had already been impacted by COVID-19.
Aside from the start date being pushed to Jan. 13, a number of players tested positive and four teams had training camps suspended for at least one day or a large number of players miss time. The Stars shut down their camp on Jan. 9 after it was revealed six players and two staff members tested positive. The Penguins canceled training camp the same day, while the Blue Jackets had 19 players miss training camp on Jan. 8. On Jan. 10, the Canucks canceled practice “out of an abundance of caution due to potential exposure to COVID-19.”
The day before the season was set to begin, the NHL announced that 27 players had tested positive during training camp. Of those, 17 players were members of the Stars. The league’s statement noted that most of the players were “asymptomatic” and were “recovering without complication.” Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad confirmed on Jan. 11 that he missed the start of camp because of a positive COVID-19 test. On Jan. 13, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar revealed that defenseman Erik Johnson had tested positive.
MORE: Capitals fined for breaking COVID-19 protocols; Ovechkin, three teammates out for at least four games
Prior to the league’s opening game on Wednesday, the NHL announced two players would miss the first game with what was listed as COVID protocol-related absences. Players listed under this category may not have necessarily tested positive for coronavirus; placing them on the list could be a precautionary move.
Per the NHL’s press release, the reason a player is listed as “unavailable” due to COVID protocols includes: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons.
The NHL will release names prior to every game.
NHL players out of games because of COVID-19
Updated Feb. 6 at 6:05 p.m. ET
Note: The NHL’s COVID protocol-related absence list includes players who miss practices and games. Below is a listing of games missed. Names are released by the NHL at 5 p.m. local time.
Anaheim Ducks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 at Golden Knights | Ben Hutton |
| Jan. 16 at Golden Knights | Ben Hutton |
Boston Bruins
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 at Devils | Karson Kuhlman |
Carolina Hurricanes
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 16 at Red Wings | Jordan Staal |
| Jan. 18 at Predators | Jordan Staal |
| Jan. 19 at Predators | Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen |
| Jan. 28 vs. Lightning | Jesper Fast, Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen |
| Jan. 30 vs. Stars | Jesper Fast |
| Jan. 31 vs. Stars | Jesper Fast |
Chicago Blackhawks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 26 at Predators | Adam Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat |
| Jan. 27 at Predators | Adam Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Wallmark |
| Jan. 29 vs. Blue Jackets | Adam Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Wallmark |
| Jan. 31 vs. Blue Jackets | Nicolas Beaudin, Adam Boqvist, Ryan Carpenter, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Wallmark |
| Feb. 2 vs. Hurricanes | Adam Boqvist, Ryan Carpenter, Lucas Wallmark |
| Feb. 4 vs. Hurricanes | Adam Boqvist, Ryan Carpenter, Lucas Wallmark |
Colorado Avalanche
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13 vs. Blues | Erik Johnson |
| Jan. 15 vs. Blues | Erik Johnson |
Columbus Blue Jackets
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 at Predators | Mikko Koivu |
| Jan. 16 at Predators | Mikko Koivu |
| Jan. 18 at Red Wings | Mikko Koivu |
| Jan. 19 at Red Wings | Mikko Koivu |
| Jan. 21 vs. Lightning | Mikko Koivu |
| Jan. 23 vs. Lightning | Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic |
| Jan. 29 at Blackhawks | Patrik Laine |
| Jan. 31 at Blackhawks | Patrik Laine |
SCHEDULE CHANGES: List of games postponed, rescheduled because of COVID-19
Dallas Stars
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 22 vs. Predators | Blake Comeau |
| Jan. 24 vs. Predators | Blake Comeau |
| Jan. 31 at Hurricanes | Andrej Sekera |
| Feb. 2 at Blue Jackets | Andrej Sekera |
Detroit Red Wings
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 vs. Hurricanes | Christian Djoos, Darren Helm |
| Jan. 16 vs. Hurricanes | Christian Djoos |
| Jan. 18 vs. Blue Jackets | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri |
| Jan. 19 vs. Blue Jackets | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri |
| Jan. 22 at Blackhawks | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Jan. 24 at Blackhawks | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Jan. 26 at Stars | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Jan. 28 at Stars | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Jan. 30 vs. Panthers | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Jan. 31 vs. Panthers | Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina |
| Feb. 3 at Lightning | Filip Zadina |
Edmonton Oilers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13 vs. Canucks | Gaetan Haas, James Neal |
| Jan. 14 vs. Canucks | Gaetan Haas, James Neal |
Florida Panthers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 17 vs. Blackhawks | Markus Nutivaara |
| Jan. 19 vs. Blackhawks | Juho Lammikko |
Los Angeles Kings
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 vs. Wild | Kurtis MacDermid, Cal Petersen, Sean Walker |
| Jan. 28 at Wild | Andreas Athanasiou |
| Feb. 2 vs. Ducks | Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte |
| Feb. 5 at Golden Knights | Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte |
Minnesota Wild
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 at Kings | Alex Stalock |
| Jan. 16 at Kings | Alex Stalock |
| Jan. 18 at Ducks | Alex Stalock |
| Jan. 18 at Ducks | Alex Stalock |
| Jan. 31 vs. Avalanche | Marcus Foligno |
| Feb. 2 at Avalanche | Marcus Foligno |
Nashville Predators
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 vs. Blue Jackets | Mikael Granlund, Luca Sbisa |
| Jan. 16 vs. Blue Jackets | Mikael Granlund |
| Jan. 18 vs. Hurricanes | Mikael Granlund |
| Jan. 19 vs. Hurricanes | Mikael Granlund |
New Jersey Devils
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 16 vs. Bruins | Eric Comrie |
| Jan. 19 at Rangers | Eric Comrie |
| Jan. 21 at Islanders | Mackenzie Blackwood, Jesper Bratt |
| Jan. 24 vs. Islanders | Mackenzie Blackwood, Jesper Bratt |
| Jan. 26 vs. Flyers | Mackenzie Blackwood, Jesper Bratt |
| Jan. 28 vs. Flyers | Mackenzie Blackwood, Aaron Dell |
| Jan. 30 at Sabres | Mackenzie Blackwood, Connor Carrick, Aaron Dell, Travis Zajac |
| Jan. 31 at Sabres | Mackenzie Blackwood, Connor Carrick, Aaron Dell, Kyle Palmieri, Sami Vatanen, Travis Zajac |
New York Rangers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 vs. Islanders | Justin Richards |
| Feb. 1 vs. Penguins | Kaapo Kakko |
Philadelphia Flyers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13 vs. Penguins | Shayne Gostisbehere |
| Jan. 15 vs. Penguins | Shayne Gostisbehere |
| Jan. 18 vs. Sabres | Shayne Gostisbehere |
| Jan. 19 vs. Sabres | Shayne Gostisbehere |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13 at Flyers | Kasperi Kapanen |
| Jan. 15 at Flyers | Kasperi Kapanen |
San Jose Sharks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 at Coyotes | Max Letunov |
Tampa Bay Lightning
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 21 at Blue Jackets | Curtis McElhinney |
| Jan. 23 at Blue Jackets | Curtis McElhinney |
| Jan. 28 at Hurricanes | Curtis McElhinney |
Vancouver Canucks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13 at Oilers | Jordie Benn, J.T. Miller |
| Jan. 14 at Oilers | Jordie Benn, J.T. Miller |
| Jan. 16 at Flames | Jordie Benn, J.T. Miller |
| Jan. 18 at Flames | Jordie Benn |
Vegas Golden Knights
Jan. 26: The team announces the coaching staff will be self-isolating and will miss, at minimum, the game later against the Blues. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports there is at least one positive test among the group. GM Kelly McCrimmon and members of the AHL team’s coaching staff will work with him.
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Feb. 5 vs. Kings | Alex Pietrangelo |
Washington Capitals
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 22 vs. Sabres | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov |
| Jan. 24 vs. Sabres | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov |
| Jan. 26 vs. Islanders | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov |
| Jan. 28 vs. Islanders | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov |
| Jan. 30 vs. Bruins | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov |
| Feb. 1 vs. Bruins | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov |
| Feb. 4 at Rangers | Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov |
Winnipeg Jets
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Jan. 18 at Maple Leafs | Anton Forsberg, Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 19 at Senators | Anton Forsberg, Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 21 at Senators | Anton Forsberg, Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 23 vs. Senators | Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 24 vs. Oilers | Pierre-Luc Dubois; Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 26 vs. Oilers | Pierre-Luc Dubois; Tucker Poolman |
| Jan. 30 vs. Canucks | Pierre-Luc Dubois |
| Feb. 1 vs. Flames | Pierre-Luc Dubois |
| Feb. 2 vs. Flames | Pierre-Luc Dubois |
| Feb. 4 vs. Flames | Pierre-Luc Dubois |
