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Dallas Stars Daily Links: “Day By Day” – How The Stars Are Coping With COVID

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars’ 2020 theme was all about responding to adversity. So how do they respond when COVID-19 shows up in their dressing room?

Well, they get back to work, for starters. Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika was back at work with them and brings some details:

…The league does not explain why a player might not be available for practice or a game, simply listing them as “unfit.” Among the players who did not practice Tuesday were: forwards Nick Caamano, Jason Dickinson, Justin Dowling, Radek Faksa, Rhett Gardner, Joel Kiviranta and Jason Robertson, as well as defensemen Taylor Fedun, Joel Hanley, Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, Julius Honka, Esa Lindell, Jamie Oleksiak and Mark Pysyk.

On the good side, Harley is expected to be ready to practice Wednesday after quarantining in his return from the World Junior Championship in Canada, and goalie Anton Khudobin returned after quarantining in his return from Russia. The Stars had enough players to practice and believe they will be ready when their season finally begins.

“We’re going to be figuring this out on a daily basis,” said Stars coach Rick Bowness. “When the puck drops, we will have done everything we can to get this team ready to go.”

Bowness also reveals that the viral outbreak came as a surprise, since the team has been following protocol to the letter:

“We have to isolate into smaller groups. We’re fortunate that we have a big space to hold team meetings, so we can keep them apart and they’re not right on top of each other. We have to shorten up the meetings so they’re not sitting there too long,” Bowness said. “But listen, we did everything right last week and we still got hit with this thing, so to sit here and say there’s a perfect way to do it…there’s not.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

“We have a lot of work to do.” Bowness updated the media after yesterday’s practice.

Saad Yousuf has packed his latest post with notes from that session.

Losing his sense of smell, getting winded while going upstairs…Anton Khudobin shares some of the details of his own fight with the virus.

Around The Leagues

The new #MurderDeathKill Division – now with 37% more Tampa Bay Lightning – starts playing tonight. Are you watching?

The Stars aren’t the only team struggling with pandemic management – although, with 17 players testing positive, it probably feels that way.

Eight wins against the Bolts?… Sean McIndoe’s ideas are intriguing, and you may wish to subscribe to his newsletter.

Rick Bowness has his full-time job sorted out, but other bench bosses could be on the hot stove this season. Ken Campbell looks at the situation.

Willie O’Ree: proving that hockey is for everyone since 1957. The Boston Bruins are doing a good thing.

Finally

Allie and Andrew Cogliano are hockey parents x 2 now. Congratulations!

Talking Points