Red Wings Add Five to COVID Protocol

With Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen already in COVID protocol, the Detroit Red Wings added five more to that list on Saturday.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have placed Givani Smith, Carter Rowney, Alex Nedeljkovic, head coach Jeff Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 18, 2021

The Red Wings are set to host the New Jersey Devils tonight.

New Jersey, meanwhile, placed defenseman P.K. Subban on the COVID list.

This comes as the virus runs rampant through the NHL.  Per CapFriendly, 90 players across the league are in COVID protocol.  The Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche have had their seasons paused until after Christmas, with Detroit’s matchup against the Avalanche on Monday yet to be rescheduled.

Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Ben Simon and assistant Todd Krygier have been tapped to join Detroit assistant coach Doug Houda behind the Red Wings’ bench with Blashill and Tanguay unavailable.  Simon and Krygier are available because the Griffins’ weekend series with the Toronto Marlies was postponed due to an outbreak on the Marlies’ roster.

It seems like some kind of league-wide pause is inevitable at this point, however no further cancellations involving the Red Wings have been announced.