NHL Modifies Its Covid Protocols For The Playoffs

The NHL and its players' association announced modifications to COVID-19 protocols for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for fully vaccinated individuals and teams on Saturday.

The modifications include relaxing restrictions regarding mask-wearing, testing, quarantining, team meetings, social gatherings and team traveling parties for players, coaches, management and staff, the NHL said.

The NHL says an individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and a team is considered fully vaccinated when 85% of the individuals in its traveling party are fully vaccinated.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said the modifications will allow teams to have more interaction.

"When you look at the COVID protocols to this point, by design, they're set up to limit the interaction for obvious reasons," Sullivan said. "And our team has tried hard to stay vigilant and disciplined, to adhere to the protocols the best we can. And the players, once again, I think just deserve so much credit for their discipline and staying with it here. We're going to continue to stay with it until this team is fully vaccinated. But what I will tell you is that both from our players and coaches, our traveling staff, we will be well over the 85 percent threshold."

Any individual who chooses not to be vaccinated must continue to abide by the previous COVID-19 protocols, and the modifications also apply to on-ice officials once all members of the officiating team are fully vaccinated.

"I can't put it into percentages or anything, but it's been a grind for a lot of the players in the protocols and those things," New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I think that will be an ease for players, like, 'Hey, this has been worth it.' We've been grinding, grinding, and now we're seeing things change a bit. I think it'll give a boost of energy to all involved."

Protocol modifications for fully vaccinated individuals include:

Protocol modifications for fully vaccinated teams include:

The COVID-19 protocols for the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs can be read here.

The NHL said a start date for the playoffs has not yet been announced.