BREAKING: Hertl in COVID Protocol, Sharks-Golden Knights Postponed

The San Jose Sharks have canceled this morning’s practice.

Here’s what we know right now about this breaking story.

2:12 PM

Tomas Hertl is the lone San Jose Sharks player on the NHL’s COVID Protocol list. We’ll see tomorrow if there are more Sharks players placed in protocol.

1:02 PM

AHL is also postponing Barracuda game scheduled for San Jose tomorrow out of an abundance of caution.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 24, 2021

12:25 PM

Per Sharks: "Despite having only one player currently impacted, the decision to cancel the team’s practice and training activities on Wednesday, and postpone the game on Thursday was made out of an abundance of caution." pic.twitter.com/P9CNYAvH0p

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 24, 2021

12:22 PM

Per NHL: "As a result of a San Jose Sharks Player entering the NHL’s COVID Protocols earlier today, the team’s game tomorrow night against the Vegas Golden Knights will be postponed." pic.twitter.com/1JzePA18ID

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 24, 2021

11:45 AM

DeBoer says #VegasBorn planning to travel as scheduled to San Jose today, far as he knows, game still happening

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 24, 2021

10:14 AM

The Sharks were scheduled to practice at 11 AM. At about 9:15 AM, a member of San Jose PR informed San Jose Hockey Now that practice at Solar4America Ice at San Jose had been canceled and a team statement would be coming soon.

The obvious thought? A person or persons from the San Jose Sharks had tested positive for COVID-19 this morning.

The last Sharks player in COVID-19 protocol was Maxim Letunov, all the way back to the training camp.  Since then, no Sharks players have appeared on the NHL’s COVID protocol list.

According to the league, a player can be placed on this list for a wide range of reasons: “(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.”

Essentially, we could be dealing with a false positive situation – or much worse. The San Jose Sharks were scheduled to take on the Golden Knights tomorrow, we’ll see if that game is postponed.