More Maple Leafs added to COVID-19 list
Article content
It’s a good thing the undermanned Maple Leafs aren’t playing this week.
While they were near the top of the Atlantic Division when the whole league hit the pause button on Tuesday night, they’re also tied for second in most COVID-19 protocol cases — 11 — according to CapFriendly Depth Charts. Calgary, the first NHL team to shut down, was worse off with 20 players down, with Toronto and Detroit next. Four more Leafs and two staffers were added Tuesday afternoon. Forwards David Kampf, Ilya Mikheyev, goaltender Petr Mrazek and defenceman Rasmus Sandin joined forwards John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, Alex Kerfoot, defencemen Travis Dermott and TJ Brodie, and goalie Jack Campbell in isolation.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
More Maple Leafs added to COVID-19 list Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Goalie instructor Steve Briere and an additional member of the team’s medical staff were also added to a coaches list that includes headmaster Sheldon Keefe, assistant Spencer Carbery, and two other unidentified off-ice staffers.
Those who just tested positive had been in the group cleared to come home on the main charter flight from Vancouver on Saturday night after the entire team was stuck in B.C. when a four-game road trip was paused after one contest. The other seven infected players and two staffers took a separate flight home on Monday.
The Leafs, as with many NHL teams, have closed their main rink and practice facilities in hopes of controlling further spread of what’s likely the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Toronto will have to re-schedule at least four postponed games.
After Tuesday’s lone remaining NHL game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning, all 32 teams will enter the Christmas break and return for practice and renewed testing on Dec. 26. The Leafs are supposed to play in Columbus on Dec. 27, but their COVID list is lengthy, while the farm team Marlies have a similar outbreak and just scrubbed a couple of post-Christmas home games on Dec. 26 and 28.
The anticipated decision by the NHL/NHLPA not to participate in the Olympics means no trip to China for Tavares and Auston Matthews, who were named to Team Canada and Team USA respectively earlier this year. Defenceman Morgan Rielly and Campbell were hopeful of consideration for Canada and the U.S. squads as well.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.