Calgary Flames
COVID hits nearly half Flames active roster as positive numbers rise around NHL
After battling each other on the ice last week, the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks are all now engaged in their own bouts with COVID-19.
While the Flames announced on Tuesday another three players tested positive after six went into protocol on Monday, the Hurricanes had their game against the Minnesota Wild cancelled when Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Steven Lorentz and Ian Cole entered protocol one day after Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis and a member of the training staff tested positive.
Noah Hanifin, Milan Lucic and Sean Monahan joined Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and a member of the training staff on the Flames list on Tuesday.
The Canes played the Flames last Thursday at the Saddledome.
Bruins players Brad Marchand and Craig Smith were added to the list days after their date in Calgary.
And the Canucks also recently hosted both teams.
The NHL is going to provide an update on the outbreaks on Wednesday, but as of now, Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is ready for anything.
โAs weโve all learned over the past couple of years, you stay limber and nimble and prepared to pivot. Right now, weโre postponed through Thursday,โ Treliving said in a Zoom availability. โI donโt want to make any proclamations about whatโs going to happen tomorrow, never mind Saturday.
โWhen you look around, a lot of other teams in the league have dealt with it, a lot of different sports. And hey, weโre not immune to what society is dealing with. This is unfortunately part of the world we live in today. Unfortunately, now weโre dealing with it. Weโll go through this and we will get out on the other side of it, at some point.โ
Hard to imagine Calgary Flames returning to ice for Saturday
Itโs unlikely the Flames will be playing on Saturday if any more positive tests are returned on Wednesday. As it is, every line and defensive pairing that played in their loss to the Bruins has been impacted. Half of that lineup is now forced to isolate for at least 10 days โ assuming none are symptomatic.
The earliest the Flames can return to the ice is Friday, but Treliving isnโt worried about what that looks like yet.
โOf that group that tested positive, obviously thereโs wives, thereโs girlfriends, thereโs kids attached to those players. So youโre worried about everybody. Thatโs just how it is. But so far, theyโre doing well,โ said Treliving.
โThe No. 1 priority for everybody is the health and safety of our players, their families, those close to them, everybody impacted. We have a great medical team. Our people know, whatever they need, we will get provided for them. Letโs not lose sight that everything else is a distant second to that.โ
The Calgary Flames outbreak is the largest in the NHL at the moment, but positive tests are popping up league wide. In the past 36 hours alone, we’ve seen 23 players test positive around the league.
โAt what point is it determined getting them together youโre not putting them at further risk for spread? Itโs too early to say. That will be determined by doctors,โ Treliving said.
“Weโll see how the rest of the week unfolds.”