List of NHL unvaccinated players down to just five to start the season

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Aug 13, 2020; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; General view of NHL logo in the stands during the warmup period between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames in game two of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The puck will drop on the 2021-22 NHL season Tuesday night with more than 99 percent of players vaccinated against COVID-19, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. This exceeds the league’s initial expectation of 98 percent.

Daly told USA Today in an interview that “probably less than five” of the league’s roughly 700 players opted not to receive the vaccine heading into the season.

“It’s a pretty tremendous result, for sure,” Daly said Monday.

Daly estimated that the number of teams that will begin the season fully vaxxed to be in “the high 20s, low 30s.” Coaches and staff are required to be vaxxed.

“It gives us the best chance not to have disruptions and execute a full 82-game season with 32 healthy teams,” Daly told USA Today. “Everybody wants to get back to normal and getting the vaccine is a good step toward making that happen.”

Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi is listed as one of those unvaccinated players. Devils goalie MacKenzie Blackwood said he would be getting the vaccine soon.

–Field Level Media

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