LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Mathieu Schneider, the Los Angeles Kings' best defenseman, will be sidelined at least six weeks after undergoing surgery for a hernia and torn abdominal muscle, the team announced Thursday.
For Schneider, who is tied with Adam Deadmarsh for the team lead with 13 points, the injury comes at a bad time. The 23-man United States Olympic roster for the Salt Lake City Games will be named by Dec. 22 and, with questions surrounding his health, Schneider may be left off the squad.
Schneider, 31, signed a three-year contract extension during the offseason. He played in 73 games last season and led all Kings defensemen in goals (16), assists (35) and points (51). He also was a major part of Los Angeles' playoff success, recording a team-high nine points in 13 postseason games.
The Kings upset the Detroit Red Wings in the first round before taking the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.
Schneider joined the Kings as a free agent on Aug. 13, 2000. He finished the 2000-01 regular season tied for fourth in the NHL in goals among defensemen and ninth in scoring.
Before joining the Kings, Schneider spent two seasons with the New York Rangers. He had 10 goals, 20 assists and 78 penalty minutes in 80 games in 1999-00.
In 723 career NHL games, Schneider has 135 goals and 304 assists.
