The COVID-19 protocols amongst the NHL are already causing some concerns, effecting players’ on and off ice routines and decisions. But the primary concern is the players’ actions off-ice and how they are coping with the “physical distancing”. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov were all placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list Wednesday, January 20^th. Concerns arose when Capitals had “social interactions among … who were not wearing face coverings”. One of the four Russians tested positive, Samsonov, who was asymptomatic on Tuesday, January 19^th, which then lead the NHL to conduct contact tracing. It was concluded the Capitals be fined $100,000 for breaking the pandemic protocol while the three other players were suspended at least for four games. It is important to note that these rules were finalized by both the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. 

This goes against the leagues COVID-19 protocols, but does this mean the league doesn’t care about their players’ well-being when outside of the arena? Does the league not understand that being in contact in a hotel room has the same risks as it does in their dressing room? Or against other teams? Ovechkin has also issued an apology: “I regret my choice to spend time together with my teammates in our hotel room and away from the locker room areas. I will learn from this experience.” Does the simplicity in Ovi’s apology show how silly this must be?  

Alex Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, posted this on Instagram just now. She says Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov have covid-19 antibodies. pic.twitter.com/ZzxaisAFvW

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 21, 2021

Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, gave quite a firm response on her Instagram to the NHL’s decision to suspend her husband. Given this heavy consequence when not following the leagues COVID-19 protocols and the fact that the players are in contact during practice, one may ask whether or not these disciplinary actions are logical for professional hockey players during a difficult time.

Eric Knight 

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Featured Image: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin will miss the next four games as a part of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. (Source: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sport)