Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson had season-ending surgery to repair his left Achilles after the tendon was cut by a skate blade during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Senators general manager Bryan Murray said Thursday the surgery went well. He also said 70 percent of the tendon was cut.
“It was a clean cut and recovery is expected to be 100 percent,” Murray said. “But it does mean his year finishes at this time.”
The Norris Trophy winner last season as the NHL’s top defenseman, the 22-year-old Karlsson was cut by the blade of Pittsburgh forward Matt Cooke’s skate as the two tangled along the boards late in the second period Wednesday night in Pittsburgh in the Senators’ 4-2 loss.
Murray said Karlsson felt he “got directed and got cut with a skate that shouldn’t be where it was.”
The loss of Karlsson is a big one to Ottawa, which already is without star forward Jason Spezza. He is out after having back surgery for a herniated disk.
The NHL’s Department of Player safety reviewed the incident and felt no supplementary discipline was required. Murray was very disappointed with that decision but said his biggest concern now is dealing with the loss of Karlsson to his hockey club.
“I’m outraged by the fact we lost Erik Karlsson,” Murray said. “I’m disappointed for him, I’m disappointed for the players on our team and the coaching staff and the fans of the city.
“The league suggested it was a hockey play gone bad and I suggested that Matt Cooke has somewhat of a history and maybe that should be considered as well, but I don’t believe that’s the approach they took. They took it as the individual act.”
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