Senators add HC D.J. Smith, goalie Filip Gustavsson, others to COVID protocol

The Ottawa Senators have added goaltender Filip Gustavsson, head coach D.J. Smith, video coach Mike King and three members of the team’s support staff to the COVID protocol. While the team doesn’t have any games left this week, absences like this could leak over into the post-holiday schedule.

While Smith’s availability is obviously important, it’s Gustavsson’s placement that might be the most disappointing. The young netminder certainly doesn’t need to miss any time during this crucial development season, his first with regular playing time in the NHL.

With him out, it will be interesting to see if Matt Murray gets the call back to the NHL, something the Senators had promised would eventually happen after he was sent down earlier this season. Murray has a .918 save percentage in the minor leagues, but that's over only two appearances as he has dealt with injuries.

The Senators already dealt with a serious outbreak earlier this season, so hopefully, this one will remain contained to just a few people.