Blue Jackets, Oilers become latest teams shut down by the NHL

The NHL's team shutdown list has grown to nine on Monday afternoon with the announcement of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers closing their training facilities through the Christmas break. They also officially announced that the Montreal Canadiens have had their training facility closed as well, although the team tweeted that last night.

Boston, Colorado, Columbus, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, and Toronto all have their facilities closed, while the Calgary Flames re-opened their training facility today for players and staff that have tested negative.

Columbus has at least three players in COVID-19 protocol, captain Boone Jenner, forward Jack Roslovic and defenseman Gabriel Carlsson. While the Oilers have seven players in the league's protocol. Those players are Duncan Keith, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Devin Shore, Ryan McLeod, Jesse Puljujarvi, Darnell Nurse, and William Lagesson.

"The National Hockey League announced today that, due to concern with the number of positive cases within the last several days as well concern for continued COVID spread, the Columbus Blue Jackets' games will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the League's Holiday Break in the schedule on Dec. 26. Additionally, the Montreal Canadiens will pause team activities at least through Dec. 26. The decision was made by the NHL's, the NHLPA's and the Club medical groups," the NHL said in a statement.

"The Blue Jackets were scheduled to play tonight at Buffalo and Thursday at home vs. Buffalo, while the Canadiens' remaining scheduled games before the Holiday Break, tonight at NY Islanders, Dec. 22 at NY Rangers and Dec. 23 at New Jersey, had been postponed previously," they added.

In a tweet this afternoon, the Oilers confirmed the news of their training facility being shut down.

"UPDATE: The #Oilers training facility is closed now through the @NHL
Christmas break. An update on return to team activities will be provided when determined."

Columbus' next scheduled game is set for Monday, December 27th against Toronto, while Edmonton is set to face Calgary on the same night.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @BlueJacketsNHL and @CanadiensMTL shut down through the holiday break. Details: https://t.co/gpeYOpswqr pic.twitter.com/UM1a7WovQi— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 20, 2021

UPDATE: The #Oilers training facility is closed now through the @NHL Christmas break.

An update on return to team activities will be provided when determined.— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 20, 2021

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