Vancouver Canucks' All-Star Ryan Kesler undergoes hip surgery, team foggy about return –NHL Update
Vancouver Canucks' power forward and All-Star player, Ryan Kesler, went under the knife on Tuesday to undergo a much needed hip surgery due to a problem which had been nagging the American born player for quite a while now, according to a press release by
the team.
General Manager, Mike Gillis, announced the news through a statement in which he deemed it a much discussed about decision.
''After consultation with our team physicians following the playoffs, it was deemed that Ryan would require a procedure on his hip”, GM Mike Gillis said in a release. “We expect a full recovery and determined this procedure would best serve both Ryan and
the team’s long-term goals”.
The operation repaired his labrum, the cartilage which that covers the socket of boll-and-socket joints. It was believed that it could have been done through rest and rehabilitation after the regular and postseason ended for the Stanley Cup finalist team.
It was later on learned that there was increase in problems associated to that specific area, which would ultimately require surgery.
"We could have got away with not having the procedure", Gillis told a local newspaper. "However, there was a high likelihood of him having continued problems. That would lead eventually to him having to have some surgery. We decided it was best for all of
us to get it done now".
Although the surgery was successful and Kesler is expected to fully recover, but the team is still uncertain of when he might be able to return. The given time by medical experts is 10-12 weeks, which means that the Canadian team will play without their
attacking centre.
Last season, Kesler remained a crucial component of Vancouver’s offensive onslaught which ultimately led them to being the top team in the National Hockey League (NHL). His 73 point (41 goals, 32 assists) performance last season in all 82 games, earned him
an impressive plus-minus rating of 24 and a Selke Trophy during the NHL awards.
Vancouver Canucks is scheduled to play its first 2011-2012 regular season match at home against Pittsburgh Penguins on October 6, where fans could witness Cody Hodgson playing centre instead of Kesler, unless he recovers quicker than expected.
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