More players opt out of NHL return

Mike Green of Edmonton and Sven Baertschi of Vancouver are opting out. Dallas defenseman Roman Polak isn’t reporting for now, and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos isn’t reporting at full strength.

In the aftermath of a deal being struck to resume the NHL season on Aug. 1, Green and Baertschi on Saturday joined Calgary defenseman Travis Hamonic among players choosing not to participate in the expanded 24-team playoffs.

“Due to the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 and after much consideration, I’ve decided for deeply personal family health reasons not to participate in the return to play,” Green, a defenseman in his 16th NHL season, said in a statement released by the Oilers.

Polak is not on the Stars’ roster for the start of training camp Monday, and a team spokesman said the 34-year-old defenseman won’t be attending at this time.

Polak is a pending free agent who last month agreed to a deal to play next season in his native Czech Republic; he had told reporters there he wasn’t planning on returning to the NHL if play resumed.

Baertschi, a 27-year-old Swiss left wing, spent much of this season in the minors. He is under contract through 2020-21.

“Sven informed us late yesterday that he has chosen to opt out of the NHL return to play program,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “It was a difficult decision but ultimately one we respect and understand.”

The Lightning won’t have Stamkos at 100% for the opening of camp because of a lower-body injury, but they’re optimistic he’ll be ready when games get under way in early August.

Tampa Bay GM Julien Brisebois said Stamkos fully recovered from core muscle surgery in early March but was injured again during voluntary workouts.

“We don’t have a specific timeline for when he will be a full participant in camp, but we expect he will be ready in time for games,” Brisebois said. “He’s here, he’s skating, he’s been getting treatment, he’s been coming to Amalie (Arena) doing his dry land work. But he will not be a full participant on day 1 of training camp.”