27 players test positive; 17 are on the Dallas Stars’ roster

On Friday morning, it was reported that the Dallas Stars abruptly cancelled practice and refused to explain why. Later on, the NHL announced that the Stars had 6 players and 2 staff members test positive for COVID-19. 

This prompted the Stars’ schedule to get reviewed, as it will not begin season before Jan. 19 - meaning first 3 games (at least) have been postponed. Those games were against the Florida Panthers (1) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (2). 

On Tuesday, a breaking report from the league and Players Association announced that a total of 27 players had tested positive, with 17 of them on the roster of the Dallas Stars. 

"The NHL concluded its 2020-21 formal training camps for the 31 teams with a total of 27 Players with confirmed positive test results for COVID-19 among nine different clubs. The results include 17 Players on the Dallas Stars – most of whom are asymptomatic and all of whom are currently recovering without complication.

During the two-week period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 11, Players were tested on a daily basis with a total of approximately 12,000 tests administered to in excess of 1,200 Players.

Effective with the start of the 2020-21 regular season, the NHL will provide regular updates on the results of tests administered to Players, including the identities of Players."

Check this out: 

Two Vancouver Canucks players will miss the start of the season because of it: 

During training camps, teams are not permitted to identify any players who are unavailable due to COVID-19 testing, but once the season begins any player who tests positive will be identified and isolated away from his team.

According to the NHL’s positive test protocol, asymptomatic people who test positive must isolate for 10 days since their first positive test. 
Symptomatic people who test positive must isolate for 10 days since symptoms began, and at least 24 hours since the last use of fever-reducing medications. Symptomatic people can also exit isolation with two negative tests after the resolution of any fever.

The league defines close contacts as people who “have been within 6 feet of the Index Individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.” Close contacts who test negative are not subject to quarantine requirements as long as they are symptom-free and continue to test negative, according to the NHL’s protocol.

The season kicks off tomorrow, with the hope that it will get wrapped up prior to July 9th. 

More postponed games could be a new obstacle for the NHL.