Report: NHL to stop testing asymptomatic players after All-Star break

Similar to discussions had within the NFL and NBA, the NHL and NHL Players' Association have been attempting to agree upon guidelines that could potentially limit or even avoid game postponements because of positive COVID-19 test results presumably linked with the highly contagious but allegedly less severe Omicron variant. 

The NHL temporarily paused play ahead of Christmas, and ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported Tuesday the league will stop testing asymptomatic players and staff members after next month's All-Star break. The NHL and NHLPA are expected to sign off on this change to protocols sometime later this month, but all players and staffers will still have to test before games that include international travel between the United States and Canada. Symptomatic players will also have to test negative for the virus to avoid entering the league's COVID-19 protocol. 

The All-Star Game will occur in Las Vegas on Feb. 5. 

Kaplan adds that a reported 73% of the NHL has tested positive for COVID-19 during the 2021-22 season. Similar to the NFL, NHL players who test positive for the coronavirus can go untested for up to 90 days after the initial result per league rules. Asymptomatic players who test positive now only have to isolate away from their teams for five days rather than for 10. 

Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi is the NHL's only player not vaccinated against COVID-19. Players considered fully vaccinated are not required to receive booster shots at this time. 

Sports leagues around the world are attempting to navigate through worrisome Omicron waves while attempting to protect both the health and safety of all personnel and also the integrity of competitions. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted back on Jan. 4 the NHL still hoped to finish the regular season on April 29, and it's believed that's still the case early into the second half of January.