‘Sucks missing games,’ still won’t get COVID-19 vaccine

Saying that “it sucks missing games,” Tyler Bertuzzi remained unrepentant about his decision to forego the COVID-19 vaccine after enduring a bout with the virus.

Bertuzzi emerged Monday from a 10-day quarantine, and said he stayed active by walking his dog to the park, and is expected to be in the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup Tuesday when they host the New York Islanders. Bertuzzi, the NHL’s only unvaccinated player, has missed eight games – five during this stretch, and three because of Canadian border restrictions – and there are six more games in Canada on the Wings’ schedule.

Asked if he has reconsidered his stance, Bertuzzi shook his head and replied, “Natural immunity now.” His teammate, Danny DeKeyser, just went through a second bout with COVID-19.

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Asked if Bertuzzi having antibodies changed his travel status, coach Jeff Blashill said not to his knowledge. “I haven’t dove super deep into it. Our people are looking at all the possibilities and ramifications of him testing positive, and it’s not affecting us today.”

The Wings don’t have a game scheduled in Canada again until the end of February. They have a weeklong trip to western Canada in mid-March, at a time they could potentially be fighting for a playoff spot.

That Bertuzzi would miss a chunk of the season came to light on the eve of training camp, when general manager Steve Yzerman said Bertuzzi had decided not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Yzerman pointed out that he and his family all had gotten vaccinated. The NHL and the NHL Players Association agreed not to have a vaccine mandate, but the Wings have taken the option not to pay Bertuzzi during the team activities he has missed because of his unvaccinated status.

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