Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and three teammates were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list on Wednesday, when the league fined the team $ 100,000 for violating health and safety protocols .
Ovechkin, center Evgeny Kuznetsov, defender Dmitry Orlov and goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov have been added to the daily list of players who are “unavailable to play or practice according to the league’s COVID protocols”.
This does not mean that everyone has tested positive for COVID-19, as players may end up on the list for reasons ranging from a positive test to “necessary quarantine as a close contact at high risk.”
The NHL fined the capital for “social interactions between team members who were in close contact and who did not wear facial covers”.
Players violated NHL security protocols by bundling up in a hotel room.
“Our training team has worked hard to create a safe environment for our players and team to compete this season,” Capitals said in a statement. “We are disappointed in our players’ choice to interact in their hotel rooms and outside the areas approved by the team. We accept the NHL decision and will once again reiterate the COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure that players are in full compliance in the future . “
The NHL protocols state that each member of a team’s travel group “will be required to stay in a single occupancy room, and no individual should allow guests or other personnel in their room”, except hotel staff.
“I regret my choice to spend time with my teammates in our hotel room and away from the locker rooms,” said Ovechkin in a statement. “I will learn from that experience.”
The teams were warned ahead of the season that failure to adhere to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols would result in penalties.
“Established violations and / or non-compliance with the COVID-19 protocol will result in significant club and individual sanctions, including potential confiscation of games, fines and expense reimbursement, loss of recruitment choices and / or ineligibility to participate in activities. training, “said the league in its official COVID-19 protocol manual.
Compliance concerns are reported to the team’s “facility compliance officer” or directly to the NHL. Players can also contact representatives of NHLPA divisional players if they have questions regarding compliance.
The capitals (2-0-2) are in first place in the East Division, with Ovechkin tied at the top of the team with five points. With 707 career goals, Ovechkin is just one goal away from drawing former Capital Mike Gartner for seventh place of all time.
Kuznetsov is the second center of the team, and Orlov is the second in average time on the ice (20:49). Samsonov was classified as the team’s number 1 goalkeeper at the start of the season.
Newcomer Vitek Vanecek, sophomore Pheonix Copley and veteran Craig Anderson, 39, are the other goalkeepers on the Capitals list.
Washington lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. The next game scheduled for the Capitals is Friday at home against the Buffalo Sabers.