Philadelphia Flyers’ defenseman Andreas Lilja undergoes hip surgery back in Sweden: NHL Reports
Philadelphia Flyers were already suffering through injuries of their players and now they have been given another blow. Their defenseman, Andreas Lilja of Sweden has gone through a hip surgery and would most probably remain out until December.
According to 37-year-old veteran, he was suffering by this problem for last few seasons now but it was not getting better. He asked some of his friends about it and consulted what he should do with it and most of them suggested that he should go for a surgery.
Talking to a Swedish newspaper, Lilja told that he got operated because the pain did not go away in the off-season like it usually did so it had to be done. It was translated by NHL.com’s contributor Risto Pakarinen in which he said,
"I've had problems with my hip for a couple of years and usually the pain goes away during the offseason, but not this year. That's why it had to be operated."
Less than one week ago, Flyers had lost their defenseman Andrej Meszaros because of an Achilles tendon injury, who is out indefinitely as it was announced by their Paul Holmgren. Like Lilja, the Slovakian blue liner would be missed by his side because of
the experience he possesses.
Even their captain, Chris Pronger’s availability is not confirmed yet who had missed whole of the last season because of the post-concussion syndrome, which had put his career into jeopardy. Missing three experienced, main defensemen would be the last thing
that Flyers would want.
One thing made 6-foot-3, 220 pounder interested in surgery was that he was told surgery will make it possible for him to play five more years of professional hockey.
He also said to the news paper that,
"Now I have a new hip and the difference is going to be huge when I hit the ice again, especially mentally, because I'll be able to play without the pain. This can mean that my career got five seasons longer."
Lilja was drafted 54th overall in the 2000 NHL draft by Los Angeles Kings and since then he has played for four different NHL teams, Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.
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