Gavrikov and Savard are the second defense pairing. Foligno has started out as the left wing on a line with center Max Domi and Cam Atkinson at right wing. Texier and Bjorkstrand had begun camp as the wingers on a line centered by Pierre-Luc Dubois. It included captain Nick Foligno, star defenseman Seth Jones, right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand, defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, defenseman David Savard, center Mikko Koivu, forward Mikhail Grigorenko, rookie forward Liam Foudy, forward Emil Bemstrom, forward Alexandre Texier, center Riley Nash and forward Eric Robinson. The group held out included nine of the team's projected top 12 forwards and most of the projected starting lineup. The team issued a statement as practice began explaining the situation, which read: "The Columbus Blue Jackets have held a number of players out of today's scheduled practice out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with the NHL COVID-19 protocols."
The players that are able to be in the building, those are the players you’re going to work with. "I thought we had a good day of work for the players that (were) here, but that’s what it’s going to be sometimes. "Maybe it’s good that it happens early on here, try to figure out protocol, try to drill home the protocol and how we adjust to it," said coach John Tortorella, who was informed of the situation Friday by head athletic trainer Mike Vogt. None of the coaching staff was absent, but only 21 players (19 skaters and goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo) were eligible to practice. It took less than a week for COVID-19 to impact their camp, which restarted Friday at Nationwide Arena with 17 fewer players on the ice following a day off. All the experience the Blue Jackets gained from qualifying for the NHL's postseason despite a litany of injuries last season is already needed in this season's training camp.