Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, GM Ron Francis announced Friday.
Bickell, 30, has scored one goal in seven games with the Hurricanes this season.
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"Since the 2015 playoffs, I've been struggling to understand what was going on with my body. Again during the past few weeks, it felt like something wasn't right," Bickell said in a statement released by the team. "Obviously this is a bit of shock for my family and me, but I am hopeful I will be able to return to the ice and continue playing the game that I love.