The Athletic’s Arpon Basu is reporting that “at least three” Montreal Canadiens players have tested positive for coronavirus. Both the Canadiens and the NHL declined to comment.
The news comes as the NHL opened training camps on Monday for the start of its Phase 3 return-to-play plan.
Over the weekend, former Capitals defenseman, Karl Alzner, informed the Canadiens he would not participate in the 24-team playoff.
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenseman Karl Alzner has informed the organization that he has made the decision to opt out of Phase 3 and 4 of the NHL's Return to Play Plan.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 12, 2020
On Sunday, Max Domi, one of the team’s top centers (17g, 27a), announced that he would wait for a seven-to-ten day period before deciding if he would join his teammates at training camp.
“Considering Max’s health condition (Type 1 diabetes), both parties have agreed to take this responsible approach and to take this time to evaluate the ongoing situation, in order to make the best decision for Max’s health at the end of this period,” general manager Marc Bergevin said in a release.
With Domi out, this is how the Habs lined up at practice.
Canadiens lines:
Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Drouin-Suzuki-Armia
Byron-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Weise-Evans-Weal
Hudon, Poehling, Dauphin and Belzile appear to be extras.— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) July 13, 2020
The twelfth-seeded Canadiens are scheduled to take on the fifth-rated Pittsburgh Penguins in a best-of-five, play-in series to kick off the 24-team playoff.
