The 2021-22 NHL season is underway, and while the majority of players are fully vaccinated — only Tyler Bertuzzi remains the most notable name remaining unvaccinated — COVID-19 is still impacting rosters on a nightly basis.
A number of the league's stars, including Patrick Kane, Erik Karlsson and, as of Nov. 3, Sidney Crosby, have tested positive.
Players who test positive are placed on the non-roster COVID-protocols list. It should be noted that other players could end up on this list too. Like last season, "COVID Protocol Related Absences" can be the result of a number of factors, including an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is done; mandated isolation for symptomatic players; required quarantine as a high-risk close contact; isolation based on a confirmed positive test result; quarantine for travel or other reasons.
What is the NHL's COVID protocol in 2021-22?
With a vaccine now available, the rules are a little different than last season. A vaccinated player is described as anyone who is two weeks post-second dose.
Unvaccinated players are not allowed to travel to Canada due to quarantine restrictions in the country. Therefore, clubs can suspend the players for inability to participate and require them to forfeit one day's pay for each day they miss. Players who are unvaccinated are also required to follow the majority of rules that were in effect last year, including but not limited to wearing masks at all times while not on the ice; exercising or eating; maintaining 6 feet of distance; not sharing rooms or spaces — such as cars — with other players.
Vaccinated players are only subject to testing every 72 hours or if symptomatic, while unvaccinated players must get tested every day. Players who test positive (a confirmed positive) and are symptomatic must isolate. They must stay in isolation until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, symptoms have improved and are cleared by medical personnel to return. Depending on symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, chest pain), a cardiac screening must also be done and cleared.
If they test positive and have to miss games, vaccinated players are listed as having a hockey-related injury and are paid. Unvaccinated players are not paid.
MORE: Twitter shows support for Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme after positive COVID test
NHL players out of games because of COVID-19 in 2021-22
Updated as of 9:56 a.m. on Nov. 8, 2021
Anaheim Ducks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 31 vs. Canadiens | Jakob Silfverberg |
| Nov. 2 vs. Devils | Jakob Silfverberg |
| Nov. 5 vs. Coyotes | Jakob Silfverberg |
| Nov. 7 vs. Blues | Jakob Silfverberg |
Arizona Coyotes
None.
Boston Bruins
None.
Buffalo Sabres
None.
Calgary Flames
None.
Carolina Hurricanes
None.
MORE: NHL COVID-19 case tracker: Updated list of players to miss games during 2021 season
Chicago Blackhawks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 24 vs. Red Wings | Patrick Kane, Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman |
| Oct. 27 vs. Maple Leafs | Patrick Kane, Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom |
| Oct. 29 at Hurricanes | Patrick Kane, Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom |
| Oct. 30 at Blues | Patrick Kane, Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom |
| Nov. 1 vs. Senators | Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom |
| Nov. 3 vs. Hurricanes | Tyler Johnson, Isaak Phillips |
| Nov. 5 at Jets | Tyler Johnson, Isaak Phillips |
| Nov. 7 vs. Predators | Tyler Johnson, Isaak Phillips |
Colorado Avalanche
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 13 vs. Blackhawks | Nathan MacKinnon |
| Oct. 16 vs. Blues | Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Johnson |
Columbus Blue Jackets
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Nov. 3 at Avalanche | Max Domi |
Dallas Stars
None.
*Detroit Red Wings
None.
*Because Bertuzzi is unvaccinated he has missed the following games: Oct. 23 in Montreal; Oct. 30 in Toronto; Nov. 2 in Montreal.
Edmonton Oilers
None.
Florida Panthers
None.
Los Angeles Kings
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 vs. Wild | Brendan Lemieux |
| Oct. 19 at Predators | Brendan Lemieux |
| Oct. 22 at Stars | Brendan Lemieux |
| Oct. 23 at Blues | Brendan Lemieux |
| Oct. 23 at Blues | Brendan Lemieux |
| Oct. 31 vs. Sabres | Viktor Arvidsson, Gabe Vilardi |
Minnesota Wild
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 28 at Kraken | Mats Zuccarello, Rem Pitlick |
| Oct. 30 at Kraken | Mats Zuccarello, Rem Pitlick |
| Nov. 2 vs. Senators | Mats Zuccarello, Rem Pitlick |
Montreal Canadiens
None.
Nashville Predators
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 vs. Hurricanes | David Rittich |
| Oct. 19 vs. Kings | David Rittich |
| Oct. 21 vs. Rangers | David Rittich |
| Oct. 23 at Jets | David Rittich |
| Oct. 24 at Wild | David Rittich |
| Oct. 26 vs. Sharks | David Rittich |
| Oct. 30 vs. Islanders | David Rittich |
| Nov. 2 at Flames | David Rittich |
New Jersey Devils
None.
New York Islanders
None.
New York Rangers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 at Canadiens | Ryan Strome |
| Oct. 18 at Maple Leafs | Ryan Strome |
| Oct. 21 at Predators | Ryan Strome |
| Oct. 23 at Senators | Ryan Strome |
Ottawa Senators
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Nov. 6 vs. Lightning | Austin Watson |
Philadelphia Flyers
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 15 vs. Canucks | Patrick Brown |
| Oct. 17 vs. Kraken | Patrick Brown |
| Oct. 20 vs. Bruins | Patrick Brown |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 12 at Lightning | Zach Aston-Reese |
| Oct. 14 at Panthers | Zach Aston-Reese |
| Oct. 23 vs. Maple Leafs | Jeff Carter, Kris Letang |
| Oct. 26 vs. Lightning | Jeff Carter, Kris Letang |
| Oct. 28 vs. Flames | Jeff Carter, Kris Letang |
| Oct. 30 vs. Devils | Kris Letang, Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel |
| Nov. 4 vs. Flyers | Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin (and head coach Mike Sullivan) |
| Nov. 6 vs. Wild | Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin (and head coach Mike Sullivan) |
San Jose Sharks
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 30 vs. Jets | Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen, Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (and head coach Bob Boughner) |
| Nov. 2 vs. Sabres | Kevin Labanc, Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Timo Meier (and head coach Bob Boughner) |
| Nov. 4 vs. Blues | Kevin Labanc, Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Timo Meier (and head coach Bob Boughner) |
Seattle Kraken
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 12 at Golden Knights | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Oct. 14 at Predators | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Oct. 16 at Blue Jackets | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Oct. 18 at Flyers | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Oct. 19 at Devils | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Oct. 31 vs. Rangers | Jared McCann |
St. Louis Blues
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 23 vs. Kings | Brandon Saad |
| Oct. 25 vs. Kings | Brandon Saad |
| Oct. 28 vs. Avalanche | Brandon Saad, Ryan O'Reilly |
| Oct. 30 vs. Blackhawks | Brandon Saad, Ryan O'Reilly |
| Nov. 3 at Kings | Kyle Clifford, Ryan O'Reilly, Ville Husso |
| Nov. 7 at Ducks | Kyle Clifford, Ville Husso |
Tampa Bay Lightning
None.
Toronto Maple Leafs
None.
Vancouver Canucks
None.
Vegas Golden Knights
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 12 vs. Kraken | Mattias Janmark |
| Oct. 14 at Kings | Mattias Janmark |
| Oct. 20 vs. Blues | Mattias Janmark |
Washington Capitals
None.
Winnipeg Jets
| DATE | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Oct. 19 at Wild | Blake Wheeler |
| Oct. 21 vs. Ducks | Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele |
| Oct. 23 vs. Predators | Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele |
| Oct. 26 at Ducks | Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele |
| Oct. 28 at Kings | Mark Scheifele |
| Oct. 30 at Sharks | Mark Scheifele |