Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Report: No plans yet to pause NHL season over COVID-19 cases

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/14/21

The NHL's latest COVID-19 crisis linked to the Calgary Flames had some fans posting on Twitter wondering if the league and/or NHL Players' Association could push to pause the 2021-22 season ahead of Christmas.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, there haven't yet been any meaningful discussions about stopping play this month. The NHL and NHLPA could, however, agree to enhanced COVID-19 protocols following a call that will happen either Tuesday evening or Wednesday:

Just talked to someone in the NHL league office.

As of now, there’s been no discussions about pausing the season due to COVID cases.

NHL & NHLPA have a regularly scheduled call (will happen tonight or tomorrow) where they will discuss if there’s a need to enhance protocols.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 14, 2021

The Flames had at least three games postponed on Monday because of a coronavirus outbreak and had nine players and one staff member in the league's COVID-19 protocol as of Tuesday afternoon. Elsewhere around the NHL, the Boston Bruins placed forwards Brad Marchand and Craig Smith into the COVID-19 protocol coming off a win over the Flames in Calgary on Saturday. The Carolina Hurricanes confirmed later on Tuesday that six players have tested positive for the virus after a matchup against Calgary last Thursday.

Carolina's game against the Minnesota Wild scheduled for Tuesday was postponed. The Hurricanes added an update on their situation will be provided on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it's been reported that a minimum of seven NFL clubs -- the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Rams -- have entered that league's enhanced COVID-19 protocols, which includes daily virus testing of all personnel and mandating mask-wearing at team facilities.

More must-reads: