NHL Brings Back Taxi Squads

Michael DeRosa Monday, December 27, 2021 NHL

With COVID-19 cases skyrocketing in the NHL right now, the league has decided to bring back Taxi Squads. However, this will not be a permanent change, as the league plans to rid of it after the All-Star Break.

The NHL has temporarily reintroduced the Taxi Squad system between today and the All-Star break.

Attached are some of the important rules that we have been made aware of so far. pic.twitter.com/TQ4LoycY36
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) December 26, 2021

This certainly will come in handy for teams who are dealing with the virus significantly. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently have a grand total of 14 players in COVID-19 protocol and certainly could use some extra insurance because of it.

There are a few changes worth noting, too. Players become ineligible for the taxi squad if they have been on a team's NHL active roster, the IR or designated non-roster. Along with that, players who are exempt from waivers and have played in 16 of their last 20 games also cannot be placed on the Taxi Squad.

It will be interesting to see if the league decides to extend it later down the road. If teams are still getting hit hard by the virus by the All-Star break, one has to wonder if it will be implemented for the entirety of the regular season. For now, though, it will be deemed as temporary.

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