Yesterday, the NHL released its new COVID protocols for the 2021-22 season which does indeed allow for the suspension of unvaccinated players with some exceptions.
Any players that are unable to participate in club activities due to COVID can be suspended, which would include travel preventing them from playing. Those players would “forfeit the equivalent of one day’s pay for each day” as the protocol states.
NHL COVID protocols have some exceptions
The exceptions for unvaccinated players who contract COVID and are unable to participate in club activities are for medical reasons, religious beliefs, infection occurred as result of employment as a hockey player, quarantine due to exposure, and “balance of probabilities.