Four more Seattle Kraken players enter COVID-19 protocol ahead of season opener
The Seattle Kraken have five players in COVID-19 protocol heading into Tuesday’s inaugural season opener at Vegas.
Calle Jarnkrok entered the protocol last week. On Monday, he was joined by Jared McCann, Jamie Oleksiak, Marcus Johansson and Joonas Donskoi. All four practiced on Sunday.
NHL players enter protocol if they exhibit symptoms, test positive or are in close contact. General manager Ron Francis previously said the Kraken are 100% vaccinated. If that’s the case, the players will be able to return once they register a confirmed negative test.
“Things happen quickly and sometimes at inopportune times,” head coach Dave Hakstol. “There’s different challenges that you go throughout the course of the season. This is one of them for us early on. We have some decisions to make, and, as we go through the day, we’ll do that.”
Seattle claimed Tampa Bay forward Alex Barre-Boulet from the Lightning on Monday. Hakstol said depending on travel schedules, he could be available for Tuesday’s game.
Oleksiak is the only defenseman in COVID protocol, leaving Seattle with more questions at forward — even more so due to the injury of Yanni Gourde. Gourde, who underwent shoulder surgery in July, has been a full participant at practice recently. But he’s still considered day-to-day, and said Monday that he won’t play in the season opener against Vegas.
“At some point we’re going to make a decision on (returning to games),” Gourde said. “We’re not there yet, but I do feel very good. I do think we’re taking steps in the right direction, and it’s very exciting, but it’s not going to be Game 1.”
During camp, McCann had been the primary center on the top line with wingers Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle. Gourde had also served as the top-line center during practice. On Monday, Alex Wennberg was on a line with Schwartz and Eberle.
Donskoi and Johansson are expected to play on the second or third lines while Oleksiak is a likely top-four defenseman.
Colin Blackwell (lower body) is also out indefinitely.
This story was originally published October 11, 2021 at 1:56 PM.
