Blackhawks forward Lucas Wallwark was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol List on Wednesday afternoon, according to a team announcement.
Wallmark played in Chicago’s first five games this season and tallied just three assists while averaging 15:30 of ice time. He joins teammates Alex DeBrincat and Adam Boqvist, who were both placed on the COVID-19 Protocol list on Monday.
The NHL is not disclosing if the Blackhawks forward has tested positive for COVID-19, only listing him as “Unavailable”. Players placed on the protocol list can be due to a number of different factors including, but not limited to:
- An initial positive test for COVID-19
- Mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals
- Required quarantine due to high-risk contact
- Isolation based on a positive test/
Wallmark missed each of the Blackhawks last two games, with his most recent appearance coming in Friday’s 4-1 win over the Red Wings. Wallmark will remain unavailable for practice, travel and games until league protocol is cleared.
The Blackhawks signed the 25-year-old forward to a one-year contract worth $950,000 in the 2020 offseason. Wallmark was originally drafted in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Hurricanes, had two brief call-ups with the team before his first full NHL season in 2018-19. In that season, Wallmark scored a career-high 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 81 games. After a trade to the Florida Panthers midway through the ‘19-20 season, Wallmark finished the final year of his contract with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 67 games before signing with Chicago in October.