Hurricanes captain Eric Staal undergoes surgery for off-season training injury

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – For the second consecutive off-season, Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal is rehabbing another ailment following the NHL playing season.

The Hurricanes announced on Tuesday that Staal had recently undergone surgery to repair a core muscle injury suffered during off-season training.

Staal is entering his 11th NHL season with Carolina after leading the team in assists (40) and points (61) during the 2013-14 season, and while recovering and playing through a knee injury suffered in May 2013 as a member of Team Canada in the IIHF World Championship Tournament.

Though the 29-year-old center didn’t require surgery last season for his third-degree sprain, this latest procedure apparently shouldn’t set him back according to Dr. William Meyers who performed the procedure in Philadelphia.

“Eric notified us of the injury late last week, and flew to Raleigh and then Philadelphia to be evaluated,” Hurricanes executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis stated in the team’s release.

“By having this procedure now, Dr. Meyers believes Eric will be able to return to action for training camp and be at full health for the start of the regular season.”