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For the second year in a row, Sean Monahan’s season will be cut short by hip surgery.
Flames GM Brad Treliving made the announcement Saturday morning, which could hardly be deemed a surprise given the medical history of the long-time alternate captain.
“Yesterday was a tough day when you find out your season is coming to an end,” said the GM, who placed the 27-year-old forward on the long-term injury list.
“The good news here is he’s got a lot of time to get this addressed before next year. He had his left hip done last year and it feels great. He’s doing wonderful with it.
“This is now the next challenge for him. No question, a great deal of disappointment. We talked a lot yesterday and at the end of the day when your body is telling you you can’t do it, you can’t do it. We’ll get it fixed and we’ll move forward.”
Unofficially it marks the seventh post-season surgery in the last four years for the veteran, who missed the last four games last season to address his first hip ailment.
Four seasons ago he punctuated the year with news he would have four surgeries, which has to be some sort of NHL record.
Treliving said he wasn’t sure how long the hip has plagued the perennial 20-goal scorer, as he has a long history of playing through injuries, missing just 35 games in his nine-year career.
It goes a long way towards explaining how the team’s most prolific goal scorer most of his career has been relegated to fourth-line duties that recently saw him scratched for two games.
“Sean is one who plays through a lot of stuff without telling a lot of people,” said Treliving.
“I know Sean has faced a lot of criticism and I think there’s a lot of bull****t out there, to be perfectly honest with you.
“This guy pays through a lot of things and for people to challenge or question him I think is wrong. Most people out there couldn’t play through a third of what he has and he keeps it to himself.”
Widely respected by the media and beloved by his teammates and staffers, Monahan’s injury will be felt both on and off the ice.
The plan is for surgery to be scheduled within days, with his rehab stint planned for Calgary so he can remain close to the team as it readies for the playoffs.
“Go in that room, there’s 23 players who love that kid,” said Treliving of the three-time 30-goal scorer who has just eight this year.
“He wears that letter for a reason. He plays a different role from the previous seven or eight years. He doesn’t b***h and whine – he says, ‘what can I do to help the team?’ That’s what Sean Monahan is all about.”
His last surgery took more than four months for him to fully recuperate from.
“He’s still a young man, he’ll be back,” said Treliving, who has Monahan under contract for one more year at $6.375 million.
“I can’t say enough good things about the guy.”
The injury makes it all the more important that Treliving made a last-minute deal on deadline day to acquire centre Ryan Carpenter to replace Brad Richardson, who was snapped up on waivers that same day.
Treliving said Oliver Kylington would be day-to-day after leaving the game against L.A. in the third after following an awkward, face-first collision into the boards.
Michael Stone will undoubtedly replace him on the second pairing alongside Chris Tanev Saturday night against St. Louis.
The Flames summoned defenceman Connor Mackey from Stockton, who skated with the Flames Saturday morning.
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