The NHL and NHLPA have formalized a number of CBA exemptions to give teams battling COVID-19 cases some roster relief, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Teams that would dress fewer than two goalies, six defensemen, or 12 forwards for a game will now be permitted to make emergency recalls as long as the cap hit of the player does not exceed $1 million.

If a team's two regular goaltenders are not available, the club will be allowed to add an additional netminder.

Teams will also have the option to use taxi squads until the All-Star break, which is slated for Feb. 5. The taxi squad can have a maximum of six players on it at once and players can only be on it for 20 days or less.

Players can’t be on the taxi squad if they're on an NHL roster as of Dec. 22; are waiver-exempt; were on an NHL roster for at least 75% of the regular-season days or have played in 16 of a team’s last 20 games through Dec. 22.

The NHL began its holiday break early by pausing all games on Dec. 22 amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases across the league. Games are expected to resume on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.