Michael Whitaker
Several members of the Detroit Red Wings have been placed on the COVID-19 protocol list today, including head coach Jeff Blashill and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have placed Givani Smith, Carter Rowney, Alex Nedeljkovic, head coach Jeff Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 18, 2021
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman addressed media members shortly after the announcement, saying the symptoms from those who tested positive have been mostly minimal.
“We just keep recalling players. Other teams have gone through this before us,” he said.
“Nobody wants anyone to get violently ill,” Yzerman continued. “My perception is (our team) will do anything to get through this.”
He also stated the team is encouraging everyone in the organization to receive COVID booster shots, though the exact number of those who have received the booster isn’t known.
“As you can tell, there are a whole lot of questions I don’t have the answers to,” he said
The recent outbreak has put the status of NHL players participating in the Beijing Olympics in doubt, though no official decision has been made.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman "I"m a big supporter of our our players playing" in Olympics but said he understands apprehension under pandemic circumstances.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 18, 2021
Yzerman also echoed the sentiments of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, questioning why the League is testing asymptomatic players.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is asking why the NHL is testing vaccinated players if they don’t have symptoms.
He said most of the cases across the league are at worst a mild cold. pic.twitter.com/vhwtrF3zCC
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 18, 2021
– – Quotes via Brad Galli Link – –
