NHL Expects 98 Percent of Players to Be Vaccinated Before Season

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (80) during the NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in New York, on Jan. 19, 2020. Kathy Willens/AP Photo

Almost the entire NHL is expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the time the season begins on Oct. 12.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly estimates that 98 percent of the players will be vaccinated, leaving between 10 and 15 players without among roughly 700 on 32 teams across North America.