The Minnesota Wild have announced that defenceman Greg Pateryn is sidelined for up to six weeks after bilateral core surgery. Minnesota announced the injury news on Tuesday.
#mnwild defenseman Greg Pateryn underwent successful bilateral core muscle repair surgery today. He is expected to return to play in approximately six weeks. pic.twitter.com/HVG2P5Jea8
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) October 1, 2019
Greg Pateryn Out After Back Surgery
It’s not known when Pateryn suffered the sports hernia injury. Dr. William Meyers of Philadelphia performed the surgery and Pateryn is expected to make a full recovery.
The Sterling Heights, Mich. native had a goal and six assists for seven points in 80 games last season. He had a Corsi for of 48.9 and a relative Corsi of -2.6.
Pateryn has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild over his six-year NHL career. He has four goals and 32 assists for 36 career points in 247 career games. The Toronto Maple Leafs originally drafted him in the fifth round, 128th overall of the 2008 NHL Draft.
He was dealing with a lower-body injury early on in training camp, but was in the lineup in Sunday’s exhibition finale against the Winnipeg Jets.
Pateryn played his college hockey at the University of Michigan for four seasons before he signed his professional deal with Toronto. Minnesota signed Pateryn to a three-year contract worth $6.75 million on July 1, 2018.
What This Means for the Future
Carson Soucy will take Pateryn’s place in the lineup while he recovers. Soucy played with Brad Hunt in Tuesday’s practice.
Pateryn’s loss will hurt a Wild team that faces an uphill climb in the Central Division. The team is undergoing a transition with Bill Guerin as the new general manager. Guering replaced Paul Fenton as general manger in the middle of the off-season. Many have picked the Wild to struggle this season and miss the post-season once again.
Pateryn should expects to return to the lineup in six weeks after he’s recovered from sports hernia surgery. The Wild hope he can return soon a stabilize the defence.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 09: Greg Pateryn #29 of the Minnesota Wild takes the puck as Blake Coleman #20 of the New Jersey Devils defends at Prudential Center on February 09, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
