Canucks' Dorsett to have neck surgery, reportedly out for season
Vancouver Canucks forward Derek Dorsett will undergo cervical fusion surgery to repair disc degeneration in his neck, general manager Jim Benning announced Monday.
The club isn't providing a timeline due to the nature of the procedure, but TSN's Darren Dreger reports Dorsett won't be back this season.
The Canucks expect him to recover fully and eventually resume playing, however.
He's been dealing with the condition for "five or six years," according to head coach Willie Desjardins.
"The decision to perform surgery was made after a thorough review of our options, including non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation," Benning said.
"Derek, our Canucks medical team, and Dr. (Robert) Watkins believe that surgery offers the best outcome both for his career and long-term health. Derek is an important member of our team and we are optimistic for a full recovery."
Dorsett, who hasn't played since Nov. 17, ended the Canucks' goalless streak of just under 160 minutes when he scored against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 5.
He's collected four points and racked up 33 penalty minutes in 14 games.