Penguins defenseman John Marino added to NHL's covid-19 protocol list

Penguins defenseman John Marino was added to the NHL’s list of players unavailable to play or practice because of the league’s covid-19 protocol.

Marino’s name was added to the list Wednesday. The Penguins, as scheduled, did not practice.

The inclusion of Marino’s name on the list does not necessarily indicate he has tested positive for covid-19.

According to the league’s daily release of the list, absences “can be the result of a number of factors including, among others: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the covid-19 Protocol.”

Individual NHL teams are not permitted to provide comment on the status of players on this list.

Forward Kasperi Kapanen was the only member of the team who previously has been on the list. As a result of his inability to secure a work visa to enter the United States by the start of the regular season, the Finnish-born Kapanen was in a league-mandated quarantine before being allowed to physically join his teammates.

To date, Marino is the Penguins only defenseman to have played in all 10 of the team’s games. Injuries have forced the Penguins to dress 11 defenseman already this season.

The Penguins have had home games against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and Thursday postponed indefinitely after a number of Devils players were added to the NHL’s protocol list.

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