7 more Flames players added to NHL's COVID protocol

Seven players, three coaches and seven support staff with the Calgary Flames were the latest members of the organization to be added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list.

As a results, the NHL announced Wednesday that the team's return to playing games is being delayed at least through Saturday. The decision was made following consultation by the NHL's, the NHLPA's and the Club's medical groups.

The team, which has already had three games postponed due to the outbreak, said head coach Darryl Sutter, associate coach Kirk Muller and assistant coach Ryan Huska were on the list.

In a Twitter post, the Flames also said that Rasmus Andersson, Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Erik Gudbranson, Trevor Lewis, Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Pitlick were the latest players to be added. Affected support staffers weren't identified.

The additions brought the number of Calgary players in protocol to 16.

Noah Hanifin, Milan Lucic and Sean Monahan were added to the list on Tuesday. Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and a member of the training staff were added Monday.

WATCH | Will NHLers go to the Olympics?:

Boston Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron is the latest NHL star to enter the league's COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Wednesday.

More than 130 players have been added to the league's protocol list this season, including two dozen in the last two days.

Bergeron's teammate Brad Marchand was added to the list on Tuesday.

Boston defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Saturday in Calgary. 

Also Wednesday, the Nashville Predators announced six players and six members of the team's travelling party — including head coach John Hynes — were added to COVID-19 protocol.

The players included defenceman Ben Harpur and forwards Mikael Granlund, Ryan Johansen, Matt Luff, Michael McCarron and Philip Tomasino.

Goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok and assistant coaches Dan Lambert and Todd Richards were also added to the list.