Adams provides updates on Sabres' COVID-19 cases

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams discussed the team's COVID-19 cases during a Zoom call with the media on Tuesday.
The Sabres placed forwards Zemgus Girgensons and Jeff Skinner in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday. Forward Vinnie Hinostroza was placed into protocol on Monday.
Hinostroza and Skinner are both asymptomatic, Adams said. Girgensons is experiencing symptoms, as did goaltender Dustin Tokarski when he was placed into protocol on Dec. 2. Tokarski has since resumed skating in Buffalo, though he has not practiced with the team.
The Sabres canceled their scheduled practice on Tuesday after Girgensons and Skinner tested positive.

"The whole world is dealing with this, and obviously as a sports league we are part of that," Adams said. "So, the protocols are in place. You are doing your best to follow everything. But you get up every day and see what the day brings.
"We have talked all year to our players about being vigilant with the rules and really making sure that we are doing everything we can to keep ourselves and each other safe. But it is just the reality of the world we are living in now.
"So, you just adjust where you have to. But everything we are doing is just trying to make sure we are keeping our players healthy, and staff. That's why we canceled practice today, to make sure we are doing the right thing."

The NHL, NFL, and NBA have all postponed games in recent weeks as they navigate the spread of COVID-19. The Sabres had three games postponed (at home against Columbus on Dec. 20, at home against Colorado on Dec. 22, and at Columbus on Dec. 23) due to cases affecting the Blue Jackets and Avalanche.
With several teams shut down through the holidays, the NHL and NHL Players' Association announced Tuesday that it had agreed to revise the collectively bargained holiday break to run from Dec. 22 to Dec. 26. Tuesday's scheduled game between Washington and Philadelphia became the league's 50th postponement.

The Rochester Americans also had their game scheduled for Wednesday postponed due to cases affecting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Adams said one Amerks player tested positive on Tuesday.
NHL players are now scheduled to report to their clubs on Dec. 26 for testing and can practice that day no earlier than 2 p.m. The Sabres are scheduled to host the New York Islanders on Dec. 27.
"We've been dealing with this for quite a long time," Adams said. "The whole world has. That's just the reality of the situation. But as an organization, we are following the rules. There's the testing that is going on. So, you are constantly on top of these things. The medical professionals are the ones who are making the decisions.
"But of course, you do have concern. You have concerns about the guys and the staff. We are hoping that if there are positives, they are asymptomatic, and you feel OK, and you test out. But that's not always the case. So yeah, for sure, there is concern. But I think everyone in the world is dealing with that, not just the NHL."