On Saturday, the Canucks added Travis Boyd, Jayce Hawyrluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Motte, Brandon Sutter, Tyler Myers and Thatcher Demko to the COVID protocol list. This, after five players were added Friday, one on Thursday, and one Tuesday. An unidentified coach also is in protocol, with the list expected to grow again here on Easter Sunday.
Longtime Canuck Chris Tanev is understandably concerned. He's already checked in with some of his former 'mates, and the seriousness of the situation has him thinking about when - if at all - the B.C. squad will return to the ice this year.
"First and foremost, you hope everyone's OK," Tanev said. "Obviously, that's the most important thing.
"Going from there, who knows what's going to happen? The league is going to make the call on that, how long they're going to be shut down, or if we're going to play make-up games or whatnot. I think everyone is still waiting to see what's going to happen with that."
Certainly, as Tanev alluded to, hockey takes a back seat in a situation like this. The new P.1 variant of COVID-19 has proven to be more transmissible, and it seems to be increasingly affecting the younger population in the lower mainland.
Here in Alberta, the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said a "significant" outbreak of that same variant of concern (or VOC) has now been detected, and work is ongoing to contain it.
The Flames have been extremely diligent in following all protocols, including daily testing, masking at all times (unless you're a player on the ice), social distancing in the locker-room, staggered entry times - on and on.
"Thus far, the Canadian Division had been pretty good," Tanev said. "Obviously, Montreal had their positives and now Vancouver, so the restrictions are there and are in place for a reason, and obviously so far this year, we've been able to follow them the best we can.
"I hope we can continue to do that as the year progresses here."