The Dallas Stars had six players and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19, and the NHL expects the team not to open the 2020-21 season before Jan. 19.
Those who tested positive are isolated and follow the CDC and NHL protocols. Positive tests have forced the stars to close their training facilities and will remain closed for several days while daily testing and contact tracking are conducted.
Under NHL policy during the preseason, the names of those who tested positive were not released.
The NHL regular season is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 13th. Dallas, the reigning Western Conference champions, were scheduled to be on the road for the first four games of the season, playing for the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in two games scheduled through Jan. 19. His opening game is scheduled for Jan. 22 against the Nashville Predators.
Dallas is one of four NHL teams intending to open the season with the presence of fans, with a 30% capacity limit of about 5,000 fans.
“The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the regular season schedule for the Stars in hopes that the team will not open its 2020-21 season before Tuesday, January 19. The Stars organization has recommended guidelines to protect the health and safety of its players, staff and the community at large, as established by the NHL, local, state and national agencies, “the NHL announced Friday.
The NHL and NHLPA anticipated the possible postponement of the games when it came to drafting the 56-game schedule this season, building in the hall to compensate for them.