Hertl, Dahlen Back in COVID Protocol

Add Tomas Hertl and Jonathan Dahlen to COVID protocol.

Yesterday, the San Jose Sharks added Brent Burns, retroactive to Dec. 17, to COVID protocol. The Sharks, sans Burns, but with Hertl and Dahlen, practiced yesterday.

Burns in COVID Protocol: “He feels fine.”

Today, Hertl and Dahlen made their second trips to COVID protocol in this calendar year. An unidentified San Jose Sharks staff member was also added.

Last season, on Feb. 24, Tomas Hertl was placed in COVID protocol. Hertl, who had not been vaccinated yet, dealt with headaches and other COVID-related symptoms. The Czech centerman managed to come out of protocol strong on Mar. 12, scoring 32 points in 33 contests to close the 2020-21 campaign.

At the moment, it’s unknown what Hertl’s symptoms, if any, are.

Current COVID protocol calls for symptomatic players to be in quarantine for 10 days, while asymptomatic players can test out with back-to-back negative tests.

Jonathan Dahlen, for example, was able to test out early after being placed in COVID protocol on Oct. 30. He missed just one game, returning to score a goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 2.

At the moment, it’s unknown what Dahlen’s symptoms, if any, are.

Every NHL player except for Tyler Bertuzzi has had at least one vaccine shot.

The San Jose Sharks are scheduled to return to play on Dec. 27 in Anaheim.

In this rapidly-shifting Omicron variant landscape, it’s anybody’s guess as to whether or not that game happens that night.

Just for example, early yesterday, the San Jose Sharks had planned to practice through Dec. 22. The NHL superseded that plan by announcing later in the day that there would be no team activities, including scheduled practices or games, from Dec. 22-25. That left the Dec. 21 Sharks practice on the calendar — until it was canceled this morning, probably because of Hertl and Dahlen’s positive tests.

So what’s next? It looks like it’s going to be a bumpy ride to Dec. 27.