Seattle Kraken place Jamie Oleksiak in COVID protocol

Just before puck drop for their game against Edmonton, the Seattle Kraken placed defenseman Jamie Oleksiak in the NHL’s COVID protocol, per a team tweet.

Haydn Fleury will take his place on Seattle's top pair alongside captain Mark Giordano for Saturday night’s game.

It’s a big loss for the Kraken. Oleksiak has played meaningful minutes during Seattle's first stretch of games, and he’s contributing offensively as well with a goal and 10 points in 29 games. He, along with Carson Soucy, is the only Kraken with a positive +/- rating.

The 28-year-old defenseman from Toronto is in the first year of a five-year, $23 million deal he signed with the Kraken before free agency as Seattle's selection from Dallas in the expansion draft.

Two of Seattle’s next four games are postponed, and after Saturday night, they have only one remaining before the holiday break. If Oleksiak is a confirmed positive, he’d likely return on Dec. 29 against Philadelphia if he’s healthy enough to play.