Scheifele now confirmed positive, will join Wheeler in protocol and miss Jets' home opener

EDITOR'S NOTE: Directly below is an update to our earlier published story on Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler testing positive for COVID-19. The Jets have now added forward Mark Scheifele to their COVID-19 protocol list along with Wheeler.

A further update from TSN NHL insider Chris Johnston states that Scheifele has indeed tested positive once again and will miss tonight's home opener against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.

For our earlier report, read below:

In case you missed the news earlier this week, Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler was placed in COVID-19 protocol and the team confirmed that he has indeed tested positive for the virus and is experiencing symptoms.

The 35 year old forward will be out of the team's lineup for at least the next four games and yesterday NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that things could get even uglier for the Jets following team wide testing. Seravalli reported that there's a real possibility that the team suffers an outbreak, similar to the one that derailed the 2020-21 Vancouver Canucks' season.

From Seravalli yesterday:

Now, thankfully, Seravalli has updated his report following several negative test cases from the team.

The latest on the situation from Seravalli:

Okay, so... the Jets aren't out of the woods yet but the early indications are that things aren't nearly as bad as they could have been. Here's hoping that this is all just a false alarm and that the team is healthy and ready to compete tonight in Winnipeg for their home opener. Again, as Seravalli reports though, all we can do is wait.

As for Wheeler, he is reportedly suffering symptoms of the virus and that's obviously cause for concern. Again, remember last season how the virus rocked the Canucks roster. Players like Bo Horvat, JT Miller and Brandon Sutter all spoke publicly about how difficult of a time they had with the virus and, frankly, how it cratered their entire season. It's worth noting that Sutter still has not played this season as he is experiencing symptoms of "long Covid". Here's hoping that Wheeler doesn't suffer the same fate that players like Sutter has suffered.

In the meantime, the Jets have struggled to start the season, going 0-3 to start the campaign. After a California road trip in which they dropped back to back games to the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, the Jets lost an OT decision to the Minnesota Wild earlier this week.