ST. LOUIS, June 4 (UPI) -- St. Louis Blues star defenseman Chris Pronger could miss the first three months next season because of the knee injury he suffered in the Western Conference semifinals.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the former Hart Trophy winner was scheduled for surgery Tuesday to repair the shredded ligament in his right knee, a procedure that would sideline him until January.
Blues officials were unavailable for comment.
Pronger suffered a torn right ACL in a collision with Detroit center Steve Yzerman in Game Four of their series on May 9.
Pronger, who two years ago captured the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman and the Hart Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player, was upended after running into the Red
Wings' captain along the boards near his own blue line.
Pronger already has had one operation since his team was eliminated in five games by the Red Wings, undergoing successful wrist surgery on May 9.
