NHL to require team staff vaccinations; player protocols not yet complete

The NHL sent out a memo to all of its teams on Friday detailing some of the league's vaccine requirements ahead of the upcoming campaign, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"Any person whose job, role, position, or access entails or entitles them to have personal interactions (within 12 feet) with club hockey operations personnel (including Players) are required to be fully vaccinated," the statement reads.

There are a limited number of exceptions - such as valet parking attendants, Friedman added. Protocols for the players are not yet complete.

The league had strict rules for players and clubs for the majority of last season but relaxed them for certain squads in May. The protocols were loosened and allowed more freedoms to players and staff on teams that were at least 85% fully vaccinated.

Once a franchise hit the 85% threshold, players were allowed to gather socially outside of team facilities, sit at restaurants outdoors, and spend time in each other's hotel rooms on the road. Players also stopped receiving PCR tests on off days and were allowed to attend team meetings without face coverings.