Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray diagnosed with cancer

Cancer has once again hit the tightly knit hockey community.

On Monday, just days after beloved Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret announced that he was battling the disease, the Senators confirmed that general manager Bryan Murray had been diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer and will be away from the team periodically to receive treatment.

"Mr. Murray is undergoing further testing and will begin treatment immediately for this condition as prescribed by the team's doctors in collaboration with specialists," the team said in a statement.

Ottawa's assistant GMs, Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee, will manage all hockey operations while Murray is unavailable.

It's an unusual but not unprecedented situation. Rangers GM Glen Sather stepped away from the team for a few days in March 2013 to recover from surgery for prostate cancer. His duties were handled in his absence by assistant GM Jeff Gorton. According to a published report at the time, Sather considered stepping down permanently, but he eventually returned to duty. Last month, he led the Blueshirts to a berth in the Stanley Cup finals.

Murray has asked for privacy as he undergoes treatment.

From the team's statement: "On behalf of the entire Senators family, the team is asking that the thoughts, prayers and support of the entire hockey community are with Bryan and his family."

As of Monday evening, Ottawa had not set up an email address for fans to share their support for Murray.