Earlier this afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers announced via their social media channels that the team has placed Zack Kassian in COVID protocol while also recalling Philip Broberg and Dmitri Samorukov on an emergency basis.

The hits just keep coming for Zack Kassian in 2021-22 as the winger becomes the latest Oiler to be placed in COVID protocol, and will be shelved for at least a week and change until he’s able to be cleared. As we’ve mentioned a lot over the past couple of weeks, Kassian will need to produce two negative tests 24 hours apart to get back in the lineup (here’s another look at the chart  (page 18 of this document) to show how the process works), so, needless to say, he won’t be playing in against St. Louis on Wednesday provided that the game actually happens.

In 25 games played so far this season, Kassian has only four goals and eight assists for 12 points to go along with 26 shots on goal and 31 PIMs while average 13:04 in TOI. Kassian joins Jesse Puljujarvi, Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, and William Lagesson as Oilers currently in COVID protocol. Unfortunately, the Kassian news spawns the question about how many other Oilers may be sidelined by COVID as teams come back from their Christmas break. Fingers crossed.

The Oilers also announced that they have recalled defensemen Philip Broberg and Dmitri Samorukov from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis.