NHL protocols explained: How Golden Knights are managing virus uncertainty

The Golden Knights and the NHL have taken plenty of steps to mitigate COVID-19 risks: fans are not permitted at home games, players must wear masks unless they’re on the ice and players are constantly tested.

Still, the virus has found its way to the Vegas dressing room twice already this year, including Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek playing two periods on Tuesday while infected with the virus.

The NHL’s policies regarding COVID-19 can be confusing. We try to answer some of the common questions below.

Why did the Golden Knights’ game continue if they knew Nosek tested positive?

The NHL released a statement saying that the Golden Knights followed all league protocols as Nosek was removed and began isolation.

But that doesn’t explain why Nosek was removed and all his teammates were allowed to continue. Nosek took his test earlier in the day as part of the league’s daily testing of all players. Before his result came back, he shared a locker room and a bench for two periods with 19 other players.

Nosek was the only player placed on the league’s COVID list. Inexplicably, none of his teammates were deemed a “high-risk close contact.”

Coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday that the team found out about Nosek's result during the second intermission. He said at that point it's the league's call whether the game should continue.

"At our level we kind of just put our hands up and hand it off to the medical experts and just follow direction," he said. "We're just following the rules that we're given."

What is the NHL’s COVID list?

Called the “COVID Protocol Related Absences” list, any player who is on the list is unavailable to practice or be with the team. Much of the confusion stems from the fact that a player can be placed on the list for one of five reasons. From the NHL, those include:

• An initial positive test that remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol

• Mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol

• Required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol

• Isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or

• Quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.

That’s a lot of jargon, but essentially just because a player is on the list does not mean he tested positive. As part of the agreement between the league and players association at the beginning of the year, names of players placed on the list would be revealed, but not the reason.

What’s the status of tonight’s game?

The 7 p.m. game against the Ducks at T-Mobile Arena is scheduled to go on as planned. Vegas held a normal morning skate Thursday, with all players but Nosek (and Shea Theodore, who was injured on Tuesday) on the ice. 

Are the Golden Knights in danger of having more games postponed?

The short answer is yes. While tonight’s game is currently unaffected, that could change. In the league’s statement about Tuesday’s situation, it said that while the game will go on, “any decision regarding potential postponement will be made by the league’s, NHLPA’s and clubs’ medical officials, following all COVID protocols and local and federal regulations.”

So far, 35 games across the NHL have been postponed this season, including three Golden Knights games.

What happens if more games are postponed?

The NHL will reschedule them. Vegas’ season is set to conclude on May 8 in a home game against the Blues. However, the postseason won’t necessarily start in the next week, as other teams’ rescheduled games have gone beyond that date. If more games need to be moved, Vegas’ season could be extended.

How often are players tested?

Players undergo a lab-based PCR every day, with results typically arriving later that day before the game. The team and the league receive the result at the same time.

While the league does not have a set policy on rapid tests, all Golden Knights and Ducks players and staff will undergo a rapid test Thursday in addition to their usual testing.

What other steps are being taken?

After outbreaks last month across the NHL, league officials enhanced the safety protocols, including urging players not to arrive at the arena until 1 hour, 45 minutes before the start of the game. Previously, players would arrive sometimes three hours before the game. Also, the league removed the glass behind the bench to increase air flow, and increased social distancing measures in the locker room.

Have any Golden Knights besides Nosek appeared on the COVID list?

Prior to Nosek on Wednesday, just one: defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. He appeared on the list Jan. 28, two days after a coach tested positive for the virus. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he was experiencing mild symptoms. He left league protocols and returned to practice Tuesday morning.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon also said one taxi squad player was in protocol, but the team is not required to disclose the name of taxi squad players. It is worth noting, though, that forward Gage Quinney has not been practicing for about two weeks, although there is no confirmation either way if that is related.

Have any other Golden Knights tested positive this season?

We know that one coach did on Jan. 26. McCrimmon said as much after that game. The team never confirmed which coach, but after the positive result all the coaches were put into isolation and assistant Ryan McGill was the last to return to the team.

Is that why Golden Knights had games suspended a few weeks ago?

Yes. Vegas played that Jan. 26 game, then closed its facility on Wednesday, the next day. On Thursday morning the NHL announced that night’s game would be postponed, and Pietrangelo appeared on the league’s list later in the day.

That Friday, Jan. 29, the league announced Vegas’ games against San Jose on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 were also postponed.

Have those games been rescheduled?

Yes. The NHL reconfigured the Golden Knights’ games to make the postponed contests fit within the existing schedule. Vegas has a full 56-game schedule planned.

Does the league have a safety net in case players are unavailable at the last minute?

Yes. The taxi squad was a player designation created for this season where players can practice and travel with the team, but are not counted as part of the active roster or against the salary cap. Players can be activated from the taxi squad at any time.

The purpose was to have players available if and when roster players were placed on the COVID list and unavailable for the game. When Pietrangelo was placed in league protocols and Brayden McNabb was placed on injured reserve, Vegas activated Nick Holden and Dylan Coghlan off the taxi squad. They have both played in the last three games.