NHLers appear to be taking new protocols seriously with major jump in vaccinations
Just three weeks ago, the NHL lagged behind almost every other major sports league in the number of players who had been fully vaccinated. With just 85 percent of eligible players receiving both doses, the NHL was behind MLB, the NBA, WNBA and MLS. However, that has quickly changed.
According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, as of this week 95 percent of eligible NHLers have been fully vaccinated. That's a big jump in just three weeks. As for the reason, none was given but it's likely it had something to do with the NHL's new protocols that were released this week that players likely had access to a while ago.
The new protocols state that any players who miss games because they are unvaccinated will not be paid for those games. That includes if they are not allowed to cross the border or due to any state/provincial rules. Those who are unvaccinated and contract COVID will not be paid for any time that they miss. Vaccinated players will be treated as injured and will continue to receive their full pay.
There are exceptions. Players who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical conditions, a conflict with "sincerely held religious beliefs;" establishment "on the basis of a balance of the probabilities COVID-19 «arised out of the course of employment as a hockey player;" or quarantine because of being a high-risk close contact.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Conor Garland | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Schmaltz | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jake Debrusk | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack McBain | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jayden Struble | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Cooley | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Christian Dvorak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Barrett Hayton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| David Savard | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Pius Suter | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Joel Armia | - | - | - | |
| Arshdeep Bains | - | - | - | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 22 | 18 | 4 | - | 36 | |
Devils | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 32 | |
Hurricanes | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 31 | |
Wild | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 | |
Golden Knights | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 30 | |
Capitals | 21 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 29 | |
Maple Leafs | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Flames | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 20 | 13 | 7 | - | 26 | |
Rangers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||