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 |
CANUCKS COVID-19 SHUT DOWN: Timeline, schedule | Win first game back
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 |