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.

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The Dallas Stars have traded forward Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2017, the Stars announced.

As per the Stars the condition of the trade is as follows:

Based on draft position, Dallas will receive the middle pick of Ottawa, San Jose, or Toronto's second-round selections in 2017 per the conditions in which Anaheim acquired the pick from Toronto in a previous trade. Should Anaheim advance to the third round of the postseason and Eaves plays in 50 percent or more of their games in the first two rounds, the selection becomes the Ducks first-round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Eaves immediately gives the Ducks the offensive boost they've been craving. The Ducks have boasted the 20th-ranked offense this season, scoring at a clip of just 2.56 goals per game.

Meanwhile, Eaves joins the Ducks having already set a career high with 21 goals through 59 games this season. In fact, his 21 tallies are more than every Ducks players sans forward Rickard Rackell, who's posted 24.

The 32-year-old will serve as a rental with his $1-million contract expiring at season's end.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets might suddenly be in the market for a depth forward.

Matt Calvert was deemed week to week with an oblique strain suffered Sunday against the Nashville Predators, the Blue Jackets announced Friday.

The left winger has 11 points in 51 games played largely in the Blue Jackets' bottom six.

Columbus will come off its bye week Saturday with a home date against the New York Islanders.

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The New York Islanders' biggest rival may be helping to foot the bill for their new barn.

New York Rangers owner James Dolan is among a group of investors offering a new arena proposal for the Islanders, according to Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick, who cited people familiar with the proposal discussions.

The new plan is being spearheaded by the Islanders, Oak View Group - for which Dolan is an investor - and Sterling Project Development, which is controlled by the Wilpon family, owner of the New York Mets.

The Islanders have called the Barclays Center in Brooklyn their home since the beginning of 2015-16, but the relationship between the NHL club and the arena has taken a turn as of late.

In January, Soshnick reported that Barclays Center officials deemed it no longer in their best financial interest to house the Islanders, preferring to focus on the NBA's Brooklyn Nets as well as concerts and other events.

That leaves the Islanders and the Barclays Center with two options. Either the club terminates its lease, allowing the team to move on in 2017-18, or the arena backs out, giving the Islanders until the end of 2018-19 to find a new home.

The new proposal to be put forth by Dolan and Co. calls for a venue to be built at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., just outside of Queens, according to Soshnick.

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The Ottawa Senators aren't expecting to have Mike Hoffman in the lineup in either of their next two games.

Head coach Guy Boucher ruled Hoffman out of Friday's road game against the Carolina Hurricanes and didn't seem confident that his star forward would be available for Sunday's contest in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers.

"(Hoffman is) legitimately injured, and I don't even know if he can play this weekend," Boucher told reporters Friday. "Right now, I'm not too optimistic about it."

The head coach confirmed Hoffman is dealing with a groin ailment, and emphasized the need to take a cautious approach despite the Senators' pursuit of first place in the Atlantic Division.

"Groin injuries can be deadly in the sense that you think you're OK and all of the sudden, you push a little bit and you snap it and then you're gone for three weeks, and that's exactly what we don't want (with him).

"If we have to sit him out for three (or) four games (to) make sure that we have him for the next month, then that's what we have to do."

Hoffman was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Winnipeg Jets and missed Tuesday's win over the New Jersey Devils.

Boucher said Mark Stone, who was injured Sunday on a headshot by Jacob Trouba that got the Jets defenseman suspended two games, is doubtful for Friday night. He also missed Tuesday night's victory.

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The St. Louis Blues signed forward Patrik Berglund to a five-year, $19.25-million contract extension, the club announced Friday.

More to come.

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Bryan Bickell's goal of getting back on the ice is on the verge of being fulfilled.

The veteran forward cleared waivers Friday and was assigned to the AHL's Charlotte Checkers by the Carolina Hurricanes.

He's not likely to play Friday against the Cleveland Monsters, but is expected to play Saturday in the rematch, according to the Hurricanes.

Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. Carolina placed him on waivers Thursday with the intention of sending him to the AHL for a conditioning stint.

He appeared in seven NHL games in October before revealing his condition.

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Thursday marked the 600th career NHL game for Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman, and there to help him celebrate were his four children.

After spotting his kids holding balloons in the front row during warmups, Stralman decided to tease them by repeatedly trying to toss a puck over the boards and missing intentionally. So cruel.

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Drew Stafford is reportedly garnering interest as the trade deadline approaches.

Teams are calling the Winnipeg Jets to inquire about the veteran forward's availability, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.

Stafford is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $4.35 million.

Related: 5 under-the-radar players who could be traded before the deadline

He's had an injury-plagued season and hasn't produced much offense with 12 points in 39 games, but six of those points came during a seven-game stretch right before he got hurt.

Stafford hasn't registered a point since returning, but he has four 20-goal seasons, including a 31-goal campaign, to his name.

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