Why Buffalo is frustrated
John Vogl, Sabres beat writer: When NHL players agreed to a season, they knew there’d be risks. The Sabres believe they were forced to take unnecessary risks. Their radar went up when Zajac was added to the protocol list Friday. When Palmieri played Saturday and went on the list Sunday, the Sabres wanted answers from the league and the Devils. They didn’t get any and had to play. It turns out they played against 10 Devils who are now sitting out.
Buffalo feels it has taken adequate precautions this season but was forced into a dangerous situation by playing Sunday. Now Hall, Ristolainen and anyone in contact with them have to be concerned about their health. As the Devils’ situation showed, more Sabres could end up on the list in the coming days. Buffalo is shut down until at least next Tuesday, so there will be a lot of uncertainty. One thing the organization is sure of is this situation may have been avoidable.
How this affects the Devils
Corey Masisak, Devils beat writer: The Devils’ new names on the COVID-19 protocol list are significant, including franchise center Hughes, linemate Bratt and top defensemen Severson and Smith. There was a bit of good news for New Jersey with Blackwood’s name being removed from the list, but there are now 10 players who played Saturday and nine who played Sunday in COVID-19 protocol.
This has to be considered a full-fledged breakout, and everyone in the team’s traveling party to Buffalo and Pittsburgh will need to be monitored closely in the coming days.
What’s next for the Devils?
Masisak: The team was still in Pittsburgh as of Tuesday afternoon and the club’s facility will be closed to everyone on the active roster through at least Saturday. Binghamton, the AHL affiliate, is sharing the facility and is allowed to continue practicing ahead of its season opener Friday in Newark, a team spokesman said. The Devils do have three players, including star center Nico Hischier, who are injured or in quarantine waiting to join the roster. This will mean they miss fewer games.
The biggest concern for the team in the immediate future will be isolating anyone who tests positive and trying to ensure more players and members of the team’s traveling party are not exposed.
Is this a scenario the league has planned for?
Scott Burnside, NHL senior writer: Hard to imagine the NHL anticipated this much chaos this early in the season. Less than three weeks into the season and there’s a wide disparity in the number of games played because of COVID-19 outbreaks. On Monday, 11 of 31 teams had at least one player on the league’s protocol list meaning they are unable to play. But the NHL did build more than a week at the end of the season to accommodate such situations.
The crucial question is whether this is the apex with vaccines increasingly more available and warmer weather approaching or is this going to plague the NHL until they have to rethink the entire schedule?
(Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today)