Canucks put 7 more players on COVID-19 list, 16 reportedly affected

The number of Vancouver Canucks players on the NHL's COVID-19-related absences list doubled Saturday from seven to 14, and the virus appears to be affecting even more members of the team.

Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Jayce Hawryluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, and Brandon Sutter landed in the protocol Saturday, joining Alex Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Braden Holtby, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, and Antoine Roussel, whom the league added to the list Friday.

Sixteen players and three coaches are currently affected and the total is expected to increase, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun. He adds that the NHL is assuming the entire Canucks club will test positive, and the league will likely need to reschedule North Division games after May 11.

The Brazil variant of the coronavirus has reportedly infected some of the Canucks players.

On Thursday, the league postponed the Canucks' games through Tuesday after placing two Vancouver players and a staff member in the league's COVID-19 protocol. LeBrun reported Saturday that the Canucks' shutdown will extend beyond Tuesday.

The NHL originally tabbed May 11 for the start of the playoffs but later moved two matchups - including a game between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens - to that date, delaying the postseason by at least a day in the wake of other postponements.