Sullivan says Penguins received covid-19 booster in October
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Members of the Penguins received a booster shot for covid-19 on Oct. 30, coach Mike Sullivan said.
No specifics were offered, but Sullivan indicated “all” members of the team were given the booster.
According to Sullivan, the booster was distributed following a 4-2 home loss the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins chose that time as they were scheduled to have four days between games.
“We did it after a game on like a Saturday night,” Sullivan said. “There was some separation between the next game to provide opportunities to overcome some of the potential side effects of it.”
Thus far, the NHL has not issued any sort of mandate with regard to boosters. Only one active player currently on an NHL roster — Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi — is unvaccinated.
The Penguins have had eight players as well as Sullivan enter protocol for the virus this season. None have missed a game because of covid-19 since Nov. 13.
This week, the NHL postponed games for the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes after several players and one staff member tested positive for the virus. Additionally, the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators have had games postponed this season for the same reason.
This is the third consecutive season the NHL has operated in some fashion while dealing with the realities of the pandemic. Disruptions have come to be expected.
”The most important thing is that players and staff and people that are around the team are safe,” said Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, the team’s representative to the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA). “It’s just the reality that we live in right now. We just have to adapt. Whatever comes at us, we have to deal with. We’ll see for the future if covid will stay around for a long time. Maybe it’s just going to be (part) of regular life. For this year, we just have to deal with it.”
Guerin named Team USA GM
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Former Penguins player and executive Bill Guerin was named as general manager of the United States men’s Olympic team for the upcoming tournament in Beijing.
Guerin, the Minnesota Wild’s general manager, succeeds Stan Bowman, who resigned Oct. 26. Bowman, also the former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, stepped aside from both posts in the wake of allegations the Blackhawks made attempts to cover up an alleged sexual assault by a former coach against a former player in 2010.
Sullivan also serves as coach of the United States’ team and worked with Guerin in Pittsburgh, including during the Penguins’ two most recent Stanley Cup championship titles in 2016 and ‘17.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes preparing for the Olympics,” Sullivan said. “I’m happy for Bill. I think he’s very deserving of it. My experience of working with Billy have been very positive. He’s a hard-working guy. My experiences of working with him here (with the Penguins) and now on the Olympic team have been great. I know that he’ll do a terrific job with respect to putting the best possible team on the ice that gives us the best chance of winning a gold medal.”
Prospect to World Juniors
Penguins forward Prospect Kirill Tankov was selected for Russia’s roster in the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship tournament to be held in Alberta later this month. Tankov, 19, was a seventh-round pick (No. 218 overall) in this year’s draft.
In 25 games this season with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg of Russia’s Supreme Hockey League (VHL), Tankov has 12 points (six goals, six assists).
Additionally, forward Logan Cooley, a native of West Mifflin, was selected for the United States’ entry into the tournament. Cooley, 17, will be eligible to be drafted in 2022.