Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman opened his training camp press conference Wednesday with some potentially damaging news for the team.
"We have all of our players vaccinated except for Tyler Bertuzzi, who’s chosen not to get vaccinated," Yzerman said.
Damaging because, as Yzerman explained, the Canadian border is closed to non-vaccinated travelers "as of now and for the foreseeable future" as COVID-19 continues to wreak global havoc. And the Red Wings play nine games in Canada this season, beginning Oct. 23 in Montreal.
As things stand now, they won't be playing them with Bertuzzi.
"Under Canadian laws he wouldn’t be able to cross the border, so he wouldn’t play in any games in Canada," Yzerman said.
All the more damaging because the Wings are counting on Bertuzzi to be one of their top scorers after signing him to a two-year, $9.5 million extension. He led the team in goals two years ago and for the first nine games last year before going down for the season with a back injury. Detroit's offense struggled badly without him.
Asked if he's disappointed in Bertuzzi's decision not to get vaccinated, Yzerman said, "No. I mean, it's his decision."
"I’m not in a position to force anyone. We can’t force anyone to get vaccinated," he said. "I personally am vaccinated, my family is vaccinated and I’ll leave it at that. Tyler has his reasons and I’m sure you’ll get a chance to ask him that question. But I respect the fact that he has a choice and has made that choice, and we’re going to work within the league’s protocols."
For Bertuzzi, that will mean wearing a mask around the rink, distancing himself from teammates during workouts, undergoing daily testing and other stipulations.
"Specifically wearing a mask on the ice, while eating, working out, I don’t think (that will be) required," Yzerman said. "But socially distancing himself from players in the gym will be required. Pretty strict protocols for the non-vaccinated players, and it’s incumbent upon not only Tyler but all of our players and our staff to adhere to it."
Yzerman confirmed Bertuzzi is with the team in Traverse City, where training camp starts Thursday.