Hurricanes captain Staal has surgery after sustaining muscle injury
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes say captain Eric Staal has had surgery to repair a core muscle injury and should be ready for training camp.
General manager Ron Francis said the surgery was performed Tuesday by a doctor in Philadelphia.
He says Staal suffered the injury - also known as a sports hernia - during offseason training.
Francis says the doctor who performed the surgery believes Staal will be ready for training camp in September and should ''be at full health for the start of the regular season.''
Staal, 29, was selected second overall by the franchise in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has recorded 688 career points (289 goals, 399 assists) over 10 seasons.
He led the team with 40 assists and 61 points in 2013-14.
Staal helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006 and is a point-per-game career playoff performer, having notched 43 points in as many contests.
