BOSTON — Mike Reilly became the latest Bruins player to enter NHL COVID-19 protocols and will miss Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
He’ll be replaced in the Boston lineup by Matt Grzelcyk, who is coming out of protocols. The Bruins have had 18 players sit out due to protocols at one time or another this season: Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Taylor Hall, Jake DeBrusk, Oskar Steen, Curtis Lazar, Jeremy Swayman, Tomas Nosek, Trent Frederic, Anton Blidh, Derek Forbort, Connor Clifton and Karson Kuhlman.
Across the NHL, there may be fewer players entering as time goes on as the NHL and NHL Players Association announced that beginning Feb. 3, COVID protocols will change.
From the joint press release announcing the change:
“The plan is to continue the current testing Protocol through Feb. 3. Provided positive test results continue to decline within the NHL, and pending review and agreement by Jan. 31 by the NHL’s and NHLPA’s medical experts, the Protocol will be updated as follows:
There will be no testing of Fully Vaccinated Players and Staff during the All-Star break (including for participating Players and staff), unless needed for travel or development of symptoms.
There will be a single test upon re-entry to Club facilities post-All-Star, after which there will no longer be asymptomatic testing, or testing of Fully Vaccinated close contacts.”
Thereafter, testing will continue only on a limited “for cause” basis in Fully Vaccinated Players and Staff who develop symptoms or require testing for cross-border travel.”
The post-COVID “testing holiday” will remain at 90 days, but symptom-based testing can still be done at the team physician’s discretion. Testing for cross-border travel post-COVID will be dictated by the relevant health authority, which is currently 90 days for entry to the U.S. and 180 days for entry to Canada.”
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