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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The Norris Trophy winner last season as the NHL’s top defenseman, Karlsson was cut by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke’s skate as the two tangled along the boards in Wednesday night’s game.

Senators GM Bryan Murray said Karlsson had surgery to repair 70 percent of his Achilles. Murray also said recovery time is three to four months, meaning the earliest Karlsson could return is in May. If he were to return in May, he would have a chance to play if the Senators were still alive in the playoffs.

“Erik Karlsson’s season is effectively over,” Murray said.

Karlsson leads NHL defensemen with six goals, scoring three times in his previous four games. He had a short-handed goal to help the Senators beat Buffalo 2-0 on Tuesday night.

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 disc.

“It’s a tough blow,” Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said. “Obviously, the way he’s playing, and how much he means to our team, it feels terrible and I feel really bad for him.”

Karlsson immediately fell to the ice and was in visible pain. He needed help getting back to the bench and showed frustration, throwing his stick against the boards before disappearing down the runway.

“You knew right away there was an issue,” Senators goalie Craig Anderson said. “He’s a player who is irreplaceable. It’s unfortunate, but there are no words that can explain what we’re feeling.”

Cooke has been suspended several times for hits, some of them involving head shots that injured opposing players. In 2011, Cooke was suspended for the Penguins’ final 10 regular-season games and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after jabbing an elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

“We all know who’s involved in it,” Senators coach Paul MacLean said. “That’s just the way it is. The injury to Erik was unfortunate, and it happens on a nothing play that could’ve potentially been whistled down.”

The NHL, however, said there will be no hearing or any supplemental discipline for Cooke in the wake of Karlsson’s injury.

“I feel horrible for Erik Karlsson, I feel bad for Ottawa,” Penguins general manager Ray Shero told ESPN.com Thursday. “It’s a bad feeling. But I can’t rationalize where that was a dirty play or anything with intent. Our fan base knows how it feels to lose a star player. It’s emotional. I know how it feels like. It’s just very unfortunate. I would not be defending Matt Cooke if I thought it was a dirty hockey play.”

The NHL’s department of player safety reviewed the incident and NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan spoke with general managers for both the Senators and Penguins, but there is nothing coming Cooke’s way. The league doesn’t view the play as illegal or malicious.

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