Tyler Bertuzzi is one of four players in the league who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19GETTY IMAGES
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that there were "only four unvaccinated players on opening night," and "all officials and personnel that come in contact with players are vaccinated," according to Eduardo Encina of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Bettman: “Health and safety has been and continues to be paramount. And even though our vaccination rate throughout the league is incredible … we know we’re going to have to fight through COVID instances and we’re reminded of that and we continue to reinforce the fact that everybody has to remain vigilant, particularly when we have our teams traveling where teams typically do” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/13).
DALY, FEHR SPEAK: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said vaccination "gives us the best chance not to have disruptions and execute a full 82-game season with 32 healthy teams." He added, "Everybody wants to get back to normal and getting the vaccine is a good step toward making that happen." NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr said that as shots became available for hockey-age players over the spring and summer, "awareness among them increased." Fehr: "You never get 100 percent in this world, but we're pretty close." Fehr said that the passage of time caused some players to "realize their concerns regarding the vaccine's efficacy or potential side effects were unfounded." Fehr: "They understand the players and the NHL are subject to whatever public health rules are in effect in both the U.S. and Canada and any state or province or city in which we play. They understand what that would mean." USA TODAY's Chris Bumbaca notes vaccination success "isn't a reason for the NHL to no longer treat the pandemic as a threat." The league is "aware of breakthrough positives," and the Kraken "placed five players on the COVID-19 protocol list Monday." The Avalanche yesterday announced that C Nathan MacKinnon "tested positive, is asymptomatic and will miss at least the season opener." Daly "expects similar occurrences as long as variants spread" (USA TODAY, 10/13).
