Even with COVID-19 protocols sidelining 5 players, the Chicago Blackhawks are more focused on the next game than outbreak concerns: ‘It’s going to find a way to get to some people’
Connor Murphy remembers the scariest time last March, when COVID-19 was spreading rapidly across the globe and sports leagues were tumbling like dominoes with one shutdown after another.
“Since COVID’s been around, you sometimes might sneeze and joke with someone thinking they have COVID back when it started, when everyone was afraid of every little thing that was going to happen,” Murphy said. “I don’t really go around every day thinking about it. We’ve been through this for so long, for almost a year now.”
But Saturday was different.
The Hawks canceled practice at Fifth Third Arena as a precaution. Forward Ryan Carpenter and defenseman Nicolas Beaudin were later placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.
“Never had that before,” Murphy said of the canceled practice. “COVID tests done, sent us home right away, just treated it like an off day. Still had our Zoom meeting and messages to prepare for today like (Sunday’s game against the Blue Jackets) would happen.”
After avoiding the “unavailable” list to start the season, the Hawks have been hit hard.
Defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Alex DeBrincat were placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Monday, and forward Lucas Wallmark was added Wednesday. With Carpenter and Beaudin joining that group Saturday, that’s five players for the Hawks.
“I mean, it’s tough once it gets in the locker room,” said forward Andrew Shaw, who played with DeBrincat on the first power play unit. “It’s going to find a way to get to some people.
“We’re all following protocols, we have our masks on, we’re staying away from each other, we’re doing Zoom meetings, we’re following all the guidelines we’re supposed to be following, and the trainers are making sure of it as well and helping us out.
“I mean, just wash your hands, stay away from each other, and you know you’ve got to prepare for tonight like tonight.”
With each new teammate that pops up on the list, Murphy said, “Right away, you don’t know for sure if it’s something that’s precautionary or if there is a positive test. You don’t really find that out.
“It’s more so just worrying about the individual and making sure that he’s OK. You send a text and make sure they’re feeling well and hopefully not symptomatic.”
With a game against the Blue Jackets still on for Sunday night at the United Center, the Hawks are regrouping after dealing with the setbacks brought on by COVID-19, shuffling in new players, rolling with changes to the practice schedule and not letting concern over a potential outbreak in the locker room creep into their thought process.
“It’s a serious thing, no question” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Hence, all the precautions and the work the league has done to try to play and do it safely.”
Players in the COVID-19 protocol can’t practice, play or travel with the team — and a range of factors can land them on the list, from an unconfirmed initial positive test or a high-risk close contact. When Boqvist and DeBrincat were ruled “unavailable,” Colliton estimated it would be at least two weeks before they were removed from the list.
There have been strategic matters to deal with in the wake in these personnel losses, such as who goes in for Carpenter on the penalty kill or the fourth line? Who takes on more an offensive role in the power play with DeBrincat out?
Shaw said, “We all sit in on PK meetings and PP meetings as well just in case situations like this happen. Obviously losing guys in those roles is tough, but we’re all in the NHL for a reason. We just have to step it up when the opportunity comes.”
Overall, the Hawks are staying focused on the main tasks: developing a young squad — which has been be getting younger with each new substitution — and improving on a 2-4-3 record.
“Yeah, that’s the world we’re living in right now,” Colliton said. “We’ve got to do everything we can to protect ourselves, protect our teammates, protect the team. But we’re also preparing to play a game.
“No one cares about our circumstances.”
The Hawks held a restricted morning skate on Sunday —more restricted than usual — and are still preparing to host the Blue Jackets tonight.
Kevin Lankinen will start in goal. With two more players shelved, Matthew Highmore will return to the lineup for the fourth time this season and winger Reese Johnson will make his NHL debut.
Colliton said that since Johnson joined the Rockford IceHogs two seasons ago, he has improved his skating and pace and already has the makings of a good face-off man.
“I think he’s earned the chance,” Colliton said. “What he does with it, it’ll be exciting to see.”
The Hawks went into the season intending to give a lot of their prospects and younger players a long look, but certainly COVID-19 has pushed that agenda into high gear. Brandon Hagel, Philipp Kurashev, Lucas Carlsson and Beaudin (before he was sidelined) are among those who’ve seen significant ice time nine games into the season.
When you consider the loss of Jonathan Toews, Kirby Dach and Brent Seabrook to various injuries or illnesses before the season even started, the COVID-19 absences take on added weight.
“You could look at it like that, but I don’t see the upside to that,” Colliton said. “I don’t see how that helps us.”
Colliton addressed the setbacks in the Hawks’ virtual meeting Saturday.
“One of the main messages is, was, we’re facing some adversity,” He said. “it’s been hard at times, we know we’re missing guys. Finding a way through and continuing to push forward and do the right things — like we really played well Friday — we have got to do it again and again and again and again. The circumstances, it really doesn’t matter.”
Seen another way, the obstacles the Hawks persevere through now could benefit them later, he added.
“That’ll be great for us in the end. That can make our team stronger. We’re trying to build a foundation we can rely on in hard times.
“So ‘why me?’ would be the total wrong approach, I think.”
