NHL COVID-19 case tracker: Updated list of players to miss games during 2021 season

Jackie Spiegel

NHL COVID-19 case tracker: Updated list of players to miss games during 2021 season image

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 May 7 at 11:28 a.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
March 24 at Wild Danton Heinen, Ben Hutton, Jacob Larsson, Anthony Stolarz
March 26 at Blues Alexander Volkov
March 28 at Blues Alexander Volkov
March 29 at Blues Alexander Volkov
April 26 at Kings Adam Henrique
April 30 vs. Kings Adam Henrique
May 1 vs. Kings Adam Henrique

Arizona Coyotes

DATE PLAYER
Feb. 12 vs. Blues John Hayden
Feb. 13 vs. Blues John Hayden
Feb. 27 vs. Avalanche John Hayden
May 1 vs. Golden Knights John Hayden

Boston Bruins

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 14 at Devils Karson Kuhlman
March 3 vs. Capitals Charlie Coyle
March 13 vs. Rangers Jake DeBrusk
March 18 at Sabres Sean Kuraly
March 25 vs. Islanders Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
March 27 vs. Sabres Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand
March 29 vs. Devils Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand
March 30 vs. Devils Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
April 1 vs. Penguins Jake DeBrusk
April 3 vs. Penguins Jake DeBrusk
April 5 vs. Flyers Jaroslav Halak
April 6 at Flyers Jaroslav Halak
April 8 at Capitals Jaroslav Halak
April 10 at Flyers Jaroslav Halak
April 11 vs. Capitals Jaroslav Halak
April 13 vs. Sabres Jaroslav Halak
April 15 vs. Islanders Jaroslav Halak
April 16 vs. Islanders Jaroslav Halak

Buffalo Sabres

DATE PLAYER
Feb. 16 vs. Islanders Casey Mittelstadt

Calgary Flames

DATE PLAYER
April 23 vs. Canadiens Josh Leivo
April 24 vs. Canadiens Josh Leivo
April 26 vs. Canadiens Josh Leivo
April 29 at Oilers Josh Leivo
May 1 at Oilers Josh Leivo
May 5 vs. Jets Josh Leivo

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
Feb. 7 at Stars Adam Boqvist, Ryan Carpenter, Lucas Wallmark
Feb. 9 at Stars Ryan Carpenter, Lucas Wallmark
Feb. 11 vs. Blue Jackets Ryan Carpenter

Colorado Avalanche

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 13 vs. Blues Erik Johnson
Jan. 15 vs. Blues Erik Johnson
Feb. 14 at Golden Knights Samuel Girard, Tyson Jost, Gabriel Landeskog
Feb. 16 at Golden Knights Samuel Girard, Tyson Jost, Gabriel Landeskog, Hunter Miska
March 5 vs. Ducks Dennis Gilbert
March 6 vs. Ducks Dennis Gilbert
April 9 at Ducks Bowen Byram
April 11 at Ducks Bowen Byram
April 12 vs. Coyotes Bowen Byram
April 14 at Blues Bowen Byram, Philipp Grubauer
April 22 at Blues Joonas Donskoi, Philipp Grubauer, Mikko Rantanen
April 24 at Blues Joonas Donskoi, Mikko Rantanen
May 3 at Sharks Devan Dubnyk
May 5 at Sharks Devan Dubnyk

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
March 20 at Hurricanes Alexandre Texier

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
April 3 at Hurricanes  Anton Khudobin
April 4 at Hurricanes Anton Khudobin

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
Feb. 13 at Predators Calvin Pickard
Feb. 28 at Blackhawks Patrik Nemeth 
April 29 at Hurricanes Adam Erne

Edmonton Oilers

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 13 vs. Canucks Gaetan Haas, James Neal
Jan. 14 vs. Canucks Gaetan Haas, James Neal
Feb. 11 at Canadiens Jesse Puljujarvi
March 10 vs. Senators Kyle Turris
March 12 vs. Senators Kyle Turris
March 13 at Canucks Kyle Turris
March 15 at Flames Kyle Turris
April 17 at Jets Dmitry Kulikov
April 19 vs. Canadiens Dmitry Kulikov

Florida Panthers

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 17 vs. Blackhawks Markus Nutivaara
Jan. 19 vs. Blackhawks Juho Lammikko
Feb. 11 vs. Lightning Anthony Duclair
April 13 at Stars Brandon Montour

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
Feb. 7 at Golden Knights Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte
Feb. 9 vs. Sharks Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte
Feb. 11 vs. Sharks Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte
March 10 at Ducks Cal Petersen
March 12 at Avalanche Olli Maatta
March 14 at Avalanche Olli Maatta
March 29 at Golden Knights Brendan Lemieux
March 31 at Golden Knights Brendan Lemieux
April 3 vs. Sharks Brendan Lemieux, Matt Roy
April 5 vs. Coyotes Matt Roy
April 7 vs. Coyotes Matt Roy
April 9 at Sharks Matt Roy
April 10 at Sharks Matt Roy
April 12 vs. Golden Knights Matt Roy

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
Feb. 16 at Kings Jonas Brodin, Brad Hunt, Victor Rask, Carson Soucy, Cam Talbot
Feb. 18 at Ducks Andrew Hammond
Feb. 20 at Ducks Andrew Hammond
March 24 vs. Ducks Zach Parise
March 25 vs. Blues Zach Parise
March 29 at Sharks Zach Parise
March 31 at Sharks Zach Parise
April 1 at Golden Knights Zach Parise

Montreal Canadiens

DATE PLAYER
March 30 vs. Oilers Joel Armia, Eric Staal
April 1 at Senators Joel Armia, Eric Staal
April 3 vs. Senators Joel Armia, Eric Staal
April 5 vs. Oilers Joel Armia
April 7 vs. Oilers Joel Armia
April 8 vs. Jets Joel Armia
April 14 vs. Flames Erik Gustafsson, Jon Merrill
April 16 vs. Flames Erik Gustafsson, Jon Merrill
April 17 vs. Senators Erik Gustafsson, Jon Merrill
April 19 at Oilers  Erik Gustafsson, Jon Merrill
April 21 at Oilers Erik Gustafsson

March 22: The game scheduled against the Oilers was postponed after Joel Armia and Jesperi Kotkaniemi were placed in COVID-19 protocols.

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
March 2 vs. Hurricanes Ryan Johansen
March 9 at Hurricanes Erik Haula

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
Feb. 16 at Rangers Nico Hischier, Dmitry Kulikov, Travis Zajac
Feb. 17 at Bruins Nico Hischier
March 11 at Islanders Will Butcher
March 13 vs. Islanders Will Butcher
March 14 vs. Islanders Will Butcher
April 20 at Penguins PK Subban
April 22 at Penguins PK Subban
April 24 at Penguins Jonas Siegenthaler, PK Subban
April 25 at Flyers Jonas Siegenthaler, PK Subban
April 27 vs. Flyers Jonas Siegenthaler, PK Subban
April 29 vs. Flyers Jonas Siegenthaler, PK Subban
May 1 at Flyers Jonas Siegenthaler
May 3 vs. Bruins Jonas Siegenthaler

New York Islanders

DATE PLAYER
March 14 at Devils Noah Dobson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau
March 16 at. Capitals Noah Dobson
March 18 vs. Flyers Noah Dobson
March 20 vs. Flyers Noah Dobson
March 22 at Flyers Noah Dobson

New York Rangers

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 14 vs. Islanders Justin Richards
Feb. 1 vs. Penguins Kaapo Kakko
Feb. 12 vs. Bruins Filip Chytil 
Feb. 16 vs. Devils Filip Chytil
Feb. 18 at Flyers Filip Chytil
Feb. 20 at Capitals Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko
Feb. 24 at Flyers Kaapo Kakko, K'Andre Miller
Feb. 26 vs. Bruins Kaapo Kakko
Feb. 28 vs. Bruins Kaapo Kakko
March 15 vs. Flyers Pavel Buchnevich, Phillip Di Giuseppe,  Adam Fox
March 17 vs. Flyers Phillip Di Giuseppe
March 19 at Capitals Phillip Di Giuseppe
March 20 at Capitals Phillip Di Giuseppe
March 22 vs. Sabres Phillip Di Giuseppe, Brett Howden
March 25 at Flyers Brett Howden
March 27 at Flyers Brett Howden
March 28 at Capitals Brett Howden
March 30 vs. Capitals Brett Howden
April 1 vs. Sabres Brett Howden

March 17: Rangers announce the coaching staff (David Quinn, Jacques Marin, David Oliver and Greg Brown) are unavailable for the game against the Flyers due to COVID-19 protocols. The club's AHL head coach Kris Knoblauch and associate head coach Gord Murphy will work the bench alongside Rangers associate GM Chris Drury.

Ottawa Senators

DATE PLAYER
Feb. 15 at Maple Leafs Ryan Dzingel
Feb. 17 at Maple Leafs Ryan Dzingel
Feb. 18 at Maple Leafs Ryan Dzingel
Feb. 21 vs. Canadiens Ryan Dzingel
Feb. 25 vs. Flames Ryan Dzingel
Feb. 27 vs. Flames Ryan Dzingel
April 3 at Canadiens Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
April 5 at Jets Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
April 7 vs. Oilers Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto
April 8 vs. Oilers Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto

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
Feb. 7 at Capitals Travis Sanheim
Feb. 18 vs. Rangers Justin Braun, Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Oskar Lindblom, Jakub Voracek
Feb. 21 at Bruins Justin Braun, Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Oskar Lindblom, Jakub Voracek
Feb. 24 vs. Rangers Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Oskar Lindblom, Jakub Voracek
Feb. 27 at Sabres Travis Konecny
March 4 at Penguins Joel Farabee
April 15 at Penguins Jackson Cates
April 17 vs. Capitals Jackson Cates
April 18 vs. Islanders Jackson Cates

Pittsburgh Penguins

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 13 at Flyers Kasperi Kapanen
Jan. 15 at Flyers Kasperi Kapanen
March 2 vs. Flyers Sidney Crosby
March 6 vs. Flyers Colton Sceviour
March 7 vs. Rangers Colton Sceviour
March 27 vs. Islanders Mark Jankowski, Brandon Tanev

San Jose Sharks

DATE PLAYER
Jan. 14 at Coyotes Max Letunov
Feb. 27 vs. Blues Tomas Hertl
March 1 vs. Avalanche Tomas Hertl
March 5 vs. Golden Knights Tomas Hertl, Marcus Sorensen
March 6 vs. Golden Knights Tomas Hertl, Marcus Sorensen
March 8 vs. Blues Tomas Hertl, Marcus Sorensen
March 12 at Ducks Marcus Sorensen
March 13 at Ducks Marcus Sorensen

St. Louis Blues

DATE PLAYER
Feb. 20 vs. Sharks Sammy Blais
March 20 at Sharks Zach Sanford

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
Feb. 13 at Panthers Steven Stamkos

Toronto Maple Leafs

DATE PLAYER
April 7 vs. Canadiens William Nylander
April 10 vs. Senators William Nylander
April 12 at Canadiens Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, William Nylander
April 13 vs. Flames Nick Foligno, Ben Hutton, Riley Nash, William Nylander
April 15 vs. Jets Nick Foligno, Ben Hutton, Riley Nash, William Nylander
April 18 at Canucks Nick Foligno, Ben Hutton, Riley Nash
April 20 at Canucks Nick Foligno, Ben Hutton

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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
March 24 vs. Jets Travis Boyd
March 31 vs. Flames* Adam Gaudette

*At 9 p.m. the NHL announced this game was postponed when a second player was added to the list after it was released at 5:00 p.m. ET. It was also announced that a member of the coaching staff also entered the NHL’s COVID protocols.

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
Feb. 11 vs. Ducks Tomas Nosek
Feb. 13 at Sharks Tomas Nosek
Feb. 14 vs. Avalanche Tomas Nosek
Feb. 16 vs. Avalanche Tomas Nosek
Feb. 20 at Avalanche Tomas Nosek
Feb. 22 at Avalanche Tomas Nosek

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
Feb. 7 vs. Flyers Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov, Jakub Vrana
May 5 at Rangers Evgeny Kuznetsov

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

Jackie Spiegel