Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe has been added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list, as of Thursday, February 4. McCabe becomes the fifth Sabres player added to the list in the last few days, joining Taylor Hall, Rasmus Ristolainen, Brandon Montour and Tobias Rieder.
Players on the list have not necessarily tested positive for COVID-19. Here are the factors that can result in a player being put on the list:
(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.
Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger was added to the list earlier Thursday after it was announced that he has tested positive.
The list is updated daily in the early evening by the NHL. The Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils each have an astounding number of players on the list. Other additions on Thursday included Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog.
As more and more Sabres personnel are added to the list, the team’s games through Monday have already been postponed, with a decision about games beyond that expected any day now. With more people being added to the list from the Buffalo organization, it seems likely that additional postponements will be needed.
Stay tuned as we learn more in the coming days.