Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Flames' COVID outbreak continues to get worse as 17 more people added to protocol

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/15/21

The Calgary Flames had three games postponed by the NHL on Monday because of a coronavirus outbreak that included a total of nine players and one staff member entering the league's COVID-19 protocol as of Tuesday.

Calgary seems no closer to returning to action anytime soon.

Per the NHL's website, the Flames placed forwards Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Trevor Lewis and Tyler Pitlick; defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Erik Gudbranson; and goaltender Jacob Markstrom into the COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday. Additionally, head coach Darryl Sutter, assistants Ryan Huska and Kirk Muller, and seven support staff were also added to the coronavirus-related list.

They join Milan Lucic, Sean Monahan, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Christopher Tanev and Nikita Zadorov among players currently unavailable.

#Flames lineup on Saturday vs. #Flames lineup today. pic.twitter.com/R7k3abrCtb
— Daily Faceoff - Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) December 15, 2021

The Flames' training facilities are closed to players until further notice, which has many questioning the status of their home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets set to occur this Saturday.

"I don't want to make any proclamations about what's going to happen tomorrow, never mind Saturday," Flames general manager Brad Treliving explained on Tuesday. "We have to prepare. The lesson for all of us in this time is you take the information you have and you make the best decision you can and you move forward. So today we know what we've got in terms of positive tests. We know that games have been postponed until Thursday. We have to plan accordingly until we have further information.

"Certainly there are challenges, but we'll see. Tuesday to Saturday seems like an eternity now."

As Eric Francis wrote for Sportsnet, logic suggests Calgary won't receive clearance to play on Saturday. Following this weekend, the Flames are next scheduled to face the Anaheim Ducks next Tuesday (Dec. 21).

More must-reads: