Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal on NHL COVID-19 protocol list
Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has been placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, the league announced Friday.
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday that he was not sure how long Staal might be out and could not share any further information on his status.
Center Morgan Geekie was recalled Saturday from the Canes’ taxi squad on an emergency basis and will replace Staal in the lineup Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
“He’s our leader on and off the ice,” Brind’Amour said of Staal. “You rely on him so much. He’s a big part of what we’re doing.
“It’s part of what goes on in all sports. We’ve got to step up and other guys have to fill that role. We’re definitely going to miss him.”
Staal played Thursday in the Canes’ season opener at Detroit as Carolina took a 3-0 victory at Little Caesars Arena.
Staal, 32, becomes the first Hurricanes player to be listed by the league for COVID-19 issues, and it is not known how long he could be out. The veteran center could be replaced in the lineup Saturday by center Morgan Geekie, who is on the Canes’ taxi squad.
The NHL in the 2020-21 season will share the names of players who are “unavailable” to the team to practice, travel or play in games because of coronavirus protocols. “COVID protocol related absences” can result from various factors, including: an initial positive test that remains unconfirmed; mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals; required quarantine as a high-risk close contact; and isolation based on a confirmed positive test.
Neither the NHL nor the team will provide additional information on the reason the player is unavailable or how much time he may miss.
Geekie, 22, scored against the Red Wings last season in the final regular-season game before the COVID-19 suspension, It was his second NHL game after his scintillating NHL debut against Pittsburgh: two goals and an assist.
Geekie had just one assist in the Canes’ eight postseason games -- an assist against the New York Rangers.
“He has some comfort with our group and the system,” Brind’Amour said. “I don’t expect him to be putting up points like he did when he first showed up, those couple of games. But I think he’s comfortable with us. It’s his first game in a long time, too, so I’m not putting too much expectations on him.”
Also on the NHL protocol list Friday was goalie Anton Forsberg, who was placed on NHL waivers Thursday by the Hurricanes and claimed Friday by the Winnipeg Jets.
This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 6:44 PM.
