Connor Hellebuyck isn’t a fan of the NHL’s latest move to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The league pushed up the start of its traditional holiday schedule pause by 48 hours because of coronavirus concerns and full-on outbreaks fuelled by the Omicron variant that have led to 45 games being postponed since Dec. 13.
The Winnipeg Jets goalie, however, doesn’t agree with a decision that will see players off starting Wednesday before returning to work Sunday.
“I can’t speak for everyone, but the feeling for myself … it’s a little overkill,” Hellebuyck told reporters in Winnipeg on Tuesday. “You see leagues like the NFL, who are adapting and, I think, doing things right.”
The NFL recently reduced COVID-19 testing for vaccinated players that are asymptomatic. The NHL had been testing players every third day, but returned to a daily regimen through at least Jan. 7 amid a surge in cases.
More than a third of NHL teams had either been shut down or voluntarily closed facilities through the holidays before the league announced Wednesday’s schedule would be added to the list of contests needing new dates.
The NHL and NHLPA also agreed Tuesday to pull out of the Beijing Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns, a source told The Canadian Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision had yet to be announced.
As it stands, roughly 15 per cent of players — all but one NHLer is considered fully vaccinated — are in the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
“It sucks, but it’s Christmas time, so we’re enjoying the break,” said Hellebuyck, who contracted the virus last summer before eventually receiving his jab. “Use this time as a little mental reset.
“See family, enjoy the holidays, and enjoy what we have.”
The league, which paused cross-border travel until after the break, had two remaining games scheduled Tuesday before going dark until Boxing Day, but the NHL announced Washington’s matchup in Philadelphia against the Flyers was off because of COVID-19 concerns with the Capitals.
Vegas was still set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the last contest before the break despite Golden Knights defenceman Alex Pietrangelo and winger Evgenii Dadonov being added to protocol.
Tampa then announced about 2 1/2 hours before puck drop that head coach Jon Cooper has also been added to the increasingly long list.
The NHL schedule is set to resume Monday with 14 contests, although more postponements seem likely with a number of clubs dealing with multiple COVID-19 cases.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are set to play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets on Monday, announced forwards David Kampf and Ilya Mikheyev, defenceman Rasmus Sandin and netminder Petr Mrazek have been placed in protocol.
The Leafs now have a total of 11 players — including captain John Tavares and goaltender Jack Campbell — in isolation along with head coach Sheldon Keefe, two assistants, and three other members of the organization.
The Senators, who were shut down earlier this season and had three games postponed, said goalie Filip Gustavsson, head coach D.J. Smith, an assistant, and three members of the team’s support staff were also now in protocol.
The Calgary Flames, who have endured by far the worst outbreak this season, had gone three days without a positive test and reopened their facility to employees that remained negative with daily testing, but added goalie Dan Vladar to protocol.
Calgary, which has seen six of its games postponed, now has a total of 20 players and 13 staff members sidelined. The Flames are scheduled to host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
The Buffalo Sabres, meanwhile, cancelled practice Tuesday before placing Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons in protocol, where they joined fellow forward Vinnie Hinostroza.
Back in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck was also asked about the Olympics, which NHLers will now be skipping due to the latest COVID-19 disruption that’s caused a stunning 45 games to be postponed in short order.
The 28-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner was expected to feature for the United States, but will now have to hope for another chance in 2026.
“I’ll be 32,” he said. “I know I’ll still be playing my best hockey, but we’ll see if it’s the same story.
“It was going to be an awesome opportunity to play, but I guess that’s just what we have to deal with.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2021.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press