Sharks in COVID Protocol Headed in “Right Direction”

The San Jose Sharks might be healthy soon.

Currently, the Sharks have seven players and three staff members in COVID protocol.

The players are Erik Karlsson, Kevin Labanc, Timo Meier, Jake Middleton, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The staff members are head coach Bob Boughner, head trainer Ray Tufts, and head equipment manager Mike Aldrich.

“Everybody’s headed in the right direction,” acting head coach John MacLean said today.

None of these San Jose Sharks, unfortunately, will be joining the club during their upcoming road trip through Calgary and Winnipeg, because of Canadian rules governing the entry of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Karlsson, Middleton, Nieto, Simek, Vlasic, and Boughner were placed in COVID protocol on Oct. 30. Labanc was added on Nov. 1. Meier, Tufts, and Aldrich were added on Nov. 2.

On the bright side, these players and staff members should join the San Jose Sharks in Denver for the third game of this five-game road swing. San Jose is scheduled to practice this Friday in Denver, in advance of their contest with the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 13.

Nieto, Simek, Vlasic, Labanc, Meier, and Boughner jumped onto the ice about two hours after the conclusion of the San Jose Sharks’ regularly-scheduled practice today, a good sign that they will indeed be ready by this weekend.

Meier, Labanc, Nieto, Simek have just hit ice to skate — all currently in COVID protocol but must be close to returning pic.twitter.com/foavhmULBv

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 8, 2021

Karlsson and Middleton, however, did not join them for this session.

Are Karlsson/Middleton among #SJSharks who are symptomatic? Both missed Friday's practice BEFORE Saturday's game.

MacLean: "They weren't feeling great. They missed practice…Not to speculate on anything, but you know the reason why they missed the game on Saturday."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 1, 2021

Hopefully, neither defenseman is dealing with serious COVID-19 side effects, and will also be ready by this Saturday.