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Landeskog: Avs Players Shouldn’t Jump Covid-19 Vaccine Line

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Cover art by @SicLuceatLux666

Good news from Avs training camp today: Gabe Landeskog, Brandon Saad and Philipp Grubauer were back on the ice, after missing three on-ice sessions because of Covid-19-related protocol. Later in this story, I’ll have full audio files of Zoom talks Landeskog and Saad had with the media.

One question I asked Landeskog, and I thought it was important to ask it in light of news today that the Dallas Stars had to shut down their training camp and had their first three games postponed because six players tested positive, was: given that NHL players are being asked to do some things the general public isn’t – such as play games against players in close proximity, with no masks on – does Landeskog think Avs and NHL players should be able to “jump the queue” and get vaccinated now?

If I’m a lawyer, I can easily argue a case for: “Hey, these guys are having to play games with no masks, breathing huge plumes of carbon dioxide at each other. They’re not in a full bubble like the playoffs. They are out in the public too, just as susceptible to getting infected as anyone else. The work these guys do provides a lot of jobs for their local economies and provides needed enjoyment for tens of thousands of people. It’s only a small number of vaccines we’re talking about here, maybe 50 per team. Let them cut to the front of the line here.”

Well, as you might expect, Landy gave a very Landeskog-ian answer:

“No, I don’t think we should jump ahead, to be honest with you,” Landeskog said. “I think there’s a lot of people on the front lines and people in the healthcare industry that should definitely get it, then older people and people that are at risk the most. I think that’s the most important thing. I don’t know what the protocols say when we’re going to get it, spring or summer or whenever that’s going to be. But I definitely don’t think the answer is that we jump ahead.”

Hey, that’s what he should say and I don’t necessarily disagree. Just that I could make a case for it.

Landeskog believes he’ll definitely be in the lineup for Wednesday’s season-opener against St. Louis. He said he was “told to stay away from the rink for a few days” because of the protocols, but that he feels good and can’t wait to get started. He said his injured knee, cut by an errant skate blade from teammate Cale Makar in Game 6 of the second round against Dallas, has fully healed.

To listen to the captain speak, and to hear our brilliant questions, click here:

To listen to Brandon Saad, click here:

 

Some other Avs notes:

  • Erik Johnson remains unfit to practice.
  • Prospect Keaton Middleton, who had been on the unfit list, has left camp and will be further evaluated. He did not pass a team physical.
  • Avs put the following players on waivers (this is a parliamentary procedure of sorts, but one which indicates they won’t be on the taxi squad to start the season): Jacob MacDonald, Daniel Renouf, Kyle Burroughs, Michael Vecchione, Thomas Tynan, Miika Salomaki,  Jayson Megna and Sheldon Dries.

 

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