NEWSLETTER
I hope you all enjoyed the NHL Christmas Holiday break. We are back to it with the seemingly never-ending COVID protocol shuffle.
•  The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets were supposed to play tomorrow night. That is no longer the case.
NHL Postpones Tuesday Night’s Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets Game https://t.co/r4O7jVT0Tm
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  With the end of the Holiday break, the league returned to COVID testing and thus returned to adding players, coaches, and even referees to the league’s COVID protocol list.
Surreal scenes playing out outside NHL practice rinks right now with players going inside to get PCR tested, then going back to their cars in the parking lots waiting for results.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) December 26, 2021
•  This is from last night, and is already out of date.
At least 42 new players entered #NHL COVID-19 protocol today- incl players from 4 teams (ANA, DAL, PIT, TBL) that didn't have any in protocol prior to holiday.
According to data tracked @DailyFaceoff, Winter Classic host #mnwild are only team currently uninfected. [knocks wood]
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 26, 2021
•  A more updated number…
This total will likely be out of date before finishing this tweet, but there are roughly 145 players in COVID protocol right now.
Minnesota appears to be the only team without a player on the list.
— CapFriendly Depth Charts (@CF_DepthCharts) December 27, 2021
•  Now you can add Marc-André Fleury to the list of NHL players to land in COVID protocol. The Blackhawks get Calvin de Haan back, though, and have recalled Collin Delia.
Roster Moves: Marc-André Fleury Placed in COVID Protocol, Blackhawks Recall Collin Delia https://t.co/px4009SCjA
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  Delia spent much of last season on the Chicago Taxi Squad, which is going to make a comeback this season. At least through the NHL All-Star break, that is.
NHL, NHLPA Reportedly Agree to COVID Roster Protections https://t.co/w9Ru2NJyHJ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  Maybe the NHL needs to adopt a Taxi Squad for referees as former ref Tim Peel tells us that at least 15 officials are in COVID protocol as well.
There is a big problem that no one is talking about. With at least 15 NHL Officials having COVID, how is the NHL going to have enough officials for the upcoming games! #nhl #HockeyTwitter
— Tim Peel (@TimCPeel20) December 27, 2021
•  We’ve known for a little while now that NHL participation in the Olympics has been out the door. The league’s biggest star, Connor McDavid, spoke about missing out on the tournament again, and made a case for finding some way to have a best-on-best tournament every year. Hint, hint: the World Cup of Hockey.
McDavid spoke for the first time since the NHL & NHLPA decided NHL players will not be attending the #Beijing2022 Olympics.
"The whole thing is so disappointing… I think we do need to find a way to get a best-on-best tournament done at some point here."
Full answer here: pic.twitter.com/rMyx9A3gBH
— Tony Brar (@TonyBrarOTV) December 27, 2021
•  It’s not just the NHL dealing with COVID. The Rockford IceHogs in the AHL also returned to practice and are dealing with a number of COVID positive cases now, including interim head coach Anders Sorensen.
Rockford #IceHogs announce that Interim Head Coach Anders Sorensen, Garrett Mitchell, Dmitri Osipov, Mike Hardman, Carson Gicewicz, D.J. Busdeker, Nicolas Beaudin, and Ian Mitchell have entered COVID protocol#AHL
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 27, 2021
•  Their game tonight against the Iowa Wild has now been postponed as well.
GAME POSTPONED: Due to AHL COVID-19 protocols, tonight's @goicehogs game at @IAWild has been postponedhttps://t.co/s0Q8X0HKoo pic.twitter.com/AzaJWWWj27
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 27, 2021
•  YEESH.
•  IN prospect news, the Blackhawks prospects at the World Junior Championships had a solid Day One. Team USA houses three of the four prospects at the tournament, with Wyatt Kaiser and Landon Slaggert connections on the U.S. 3-0 goal in the second period of their opening game last night.
Landon Slaggert gets his first goal of the tournament! Wyatt Kaiser with the primary assist #Blackhawks #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ppkhSdMfbl
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  That 3-0 goal would end up being the game-winner for the U.S. after the Slovakian team were able to score two goals to push the U.S. in the latter stages of the game. But it was Blackhawks goaltending prospect Drew Commesso coming up big for Team USA, making 23 of 25 saves to solidify their opening night win.
Drew.#Blackhawks #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/INmWrhFb4N
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  Commesso was named the player of the game for Team USA for his efforts.
Best players of SVK/USA as selected by the teams:
Martin Chromiak (LAK)
Drew Commesso (CHI)— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 27, 2021
•  Aside from replacing the offensive spark from last year’s Gold Medal-winning team, questions about Commesso in net for the U.S. loomed large coming into the tournament. With a solid first effort last night, it appears those questions might have been answered.
Jake Sanderson (OTT) on Drew Commesso (CHI): "He won us the game. He's the backbone of this team."
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 27, 2021
•  The U.S. are back in action on Tuesday night as they take on Switzerland.
•  For Team Canada, it was a 6-3 rout of the Czechia team that was started early in the first period with a goal from Mason McTavish with an incredible individual effort.
Canada's first goal is ALL Mason McTavish pic.twitter.com/J4Xee5dFaT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2021
•  The Czechs, without Blackhawks prospect Michael Krutil (suspension from last year), made it a game though the second period, but 2021 top-overall pick Owen Power “powered” the Canadians with a hat-trick effort.
Hattrick Owen Power 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/aIkgqS6Jni
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2021
•  Power’s hat-trick is the first-ever for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships by a defenseman. That’s incredible when you think about how many times Canada has blown-out a team at the tournament and how many elite-level and Hall of Fame defensemen have played for the Canadians.
•  Canada is back in action on Tuesday when they face Austria.
•  Speaking of elite-level Canadians, a Happy 40th Birthday to former three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Blackhawks and Olympic Gold Medalist, Patrick Sharp!
Happy 40th Birthday to former 3-time Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Sharp!#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/QvQZ6fpbkJ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 27, 2021
•  Cubs fans are in the middle of a will-they-won’t-they rumor hunt:
Obsessive Carlos Correa Watch: The Cubs Don’t Make Sense! Er … the Cubs Make Total Sense! – https://t.co/BzyueCKKWn pic.twitter.com/5Mho904F86
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 27, 2021
•  That will do it for today. Hope you all enjoy your Monday.
