One Leafs player and one staff member added to COVID-19 protocol on Thursday

Per the team's official Twitter account, Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly and an unnamed Leafs staff member were added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list, bringing the team's total to almost 20 players, coaches and other team personnel.

This, combined with the fact that as many as 10 Toronto Marlies are in protocol, it appears more and more likely that we're headed for additional postponements after the holiday break.

Though, at large, the cases that the team is reporting are quite mild, it is still concerning that so many players have tested positive - especially since we are still unaware of what the potential long-term effects of the virus are.

Team facilities remain closed for the duration of the holidays, but I suspect we have not heard the last of the Leafs' players and personnel being added to protocol with Omicron running rampant throughout the NHL.