Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, who had been in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol since Oct. 30, said Friday that his wife, Melinda, and their 2-year-old daughter also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Karlsson said his daughter is doing well and that his wife is still experiencing symptoms, but is feeling OK.
“It’s been tough. It’s definitely not been a pleasant experience,” Karlsson said. “But we’re going to get through it. We’re not the only ones who, unfortunately, have to deal with this.”
Karlsson and six other Sharks players who had been in the league’s COVID protocol for over a week joined their teammates for their first practice with a full roster in over two weeks on Friday at Denver University.
The seven players — Karlsson, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Jake Middleton, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc and Matt Nieto — are all expected to be available to play Saturday when the Sharks face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
The Sharks said early last month that they were fully vaccinated.
“I think if we knew how that worked, I think that the world would be a little bit different by now,” Karlsson said. “But I don’t think anyone knows really how it does work and where you get it from and how it kind of transmits and what to stay away from. So, I don’t know.
“All I can say is that we’re all fully vaccinated and we still got it so, be safe out there and be careful.”
Karlsson and Middleton were the first two players to feel symptoms on Oct. 29 before the start of a scheduled practice at Sharks Ice in San Jose. They were tested and sent home, Middleton said, and found out the next day that they and five other players and coach Bob Boughner had also tested positive and had to enter the protocol.
“I was feeling a little under the weather, so I came in and took my COVID test and just told (head athletic trainer Ray Tufts) I was going to sit out that day,” Middleton said. “And the following morning is when the majority of us found out the positive test.”
Middleton said he arranged for his girlfriend to stay at a hotel while he began his 10-day stay in the protocol.
“Fortunately, she got through it fine,” Middleton said. “Everything’s fine on that front.”
Boughner and the players would have been eligible to return to the team sooner for the Sharks’ games in Calgary and Winnipeg earlier this week, but the Canadian government prohibits individuals who have tested positive within the last two weeks from entering the country.
The Sharks had a record of 3-2-1 in games since their COVID issues began and entered Friday in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 7-5-1 record.
With the Sharks mostly back to full health, the Sharks returned forwards Sasha Chmelevski, Joel Kellman and John Leonard and defensemen Artemi Kniazev, Ryan Merkley, Jaycob Megna and Nicolas Meloche to the Barracuda.
“The guys that came in under these circumstances did a great job,” Karlsson said. “I think that shows that we have some depth in our organization now. The guys that have been around for a while really stepped up and did a good job and played the right way, doing as much as they possibly could to get the points that we got. The goaltending was really solid.”
Middleton and Karlsson were paired together for Friday practice as it appears the Sharks will go back to same defense pairs for Saturday’s game that they had before the outbreak, with Simek back with Vlasic and Brent Burns with Mario Ferraro.
The Sharks who were in COVID protocol took part in three or four skates at Sharks Ice before they flew to Denver on Thursday afternoon.
“I treat it like the first game of the season,” said Karlsson, who had six points in his first seven games.
“I don’t really know how you do that. But that’s going to be my mindset and I think that’s the way it’s going to feel for a lot of the guys. We had a good first game this year, so hopefully we can have one on Saturday.”
Boughner said he might have to manage the ice time for some players who are just returning, but Middleton, who averaged over 17 minutes of ice time per game prior to Oct. 30. feels he’s ready to assume the same amount of responsibility as he had before.
“I’m sure there’s going to be that slight fatigue from body checking and that type of thing, the battles,” Middleton said. “But we’ve been doing this long enough that I think it’ll bounce right back.”
