According to The Athletic’s Arpon Basu, sources have said “at least three” Montreal Canadiens players have tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of training camp.
The NHL declined to comment as the league and players’ association agreed that positive tests will be released by the league without naming the player or their club. The Canadiens also decided not to comment.
The club announced on Saturday that defenseman Karl Alzner has opted out of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and forward Max Domi, who has type-1 diabetes, would miss the first seven-to-10 days of training camp.
29 players have participated during the Canadiens’ phase two informal skates over the past two weeks.
On July 6, the NHL released their last COVID-19 testing update which said that 23 out of 396 players tested were positive for the virus. In addition, there were 12 known cases among players who did not participate in phase two.
The Canadiens are set to open their best-of-five qualifying round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, August 1 in Toronto.
By Harrison Brown