Canucks' Stecher diagnosed with mumps, in quarantine with 4 others

Bad news at the wrong time for the Vancouver Canucks.

Defenseman Troy Stecher has been diagnosed with mumps, and four other players - Mike Chaput, Markus Granlund, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Tryamkin - are showing symptoms, the club announced.

Here's more from the release:

In keeping with BC Centre of Disease Control and Vancouver Coastal Health guidelines, players presenting symptoms are immediately being tested and quarantined in isolation for a five-day period from the onset of symptoms or until test results prove negative. Vaccines are also being administered to minimize further risk of contraction along with universal preventative hygiene measures as recommended by Vancouver Coastal Health including disinfecting all dressing room areas.

The Canucks are currently on their bye week, but will resume play Saturday at home against the San Jose Sharks - without Stecher, Chaput, Granlund, Tanev, and Tryamkin.

Stecher and Tanev log the third- and fifth-most ice time among defensemen on the team.

After Saturday, the Canucks are off until Tuesday, when Detroit's in town. The club's off Wednesday, March 1, the NHL's trade deadline day, and back in action on March 2 in San Jose, the first of a three-game road trip through California.

If Friday is day one of the above mentioned five players' five-day quarantine and isolation, that means they'll be eligible to play on March 2.

Additional team members will be screened Friday, the club added.

The Canucks are six points out of the second wild-cart spot heading into play Friday night, as the trade deadline approaches.