Wild forward Gaborik to have hip surgery

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik will have surgery on his left hip Monday and will be sidelined at least 10 weeks.

The surgery will relieve chronic groin pain that has caused him to miss all but six games this season, and team officials said the seven-year veteran would attempt to resume skating in six weeks following the procedure. The often-injured Gaborik could be out 14 weeks or longer.

The surgeon, Dr. Marc Philippon, diagnosed Gaborik's hip problem Dec. 24 and proposed two treatment avenues: manage the injury the rest of this season and then have the hip surgically repaired, or address the issue surgically now.

"I'm not happy, but I think it's the best solution for my health and my body," Gaborik told the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press newspaper. "I know it's not best for the team, but when the best doctor in the world says you should have surgery as soon as you can to avoid later problems, I'm going to do it."

He had arthroscopic surgery on his right hip last season.

Gaborik, who is unlikely to return before the March 4 trade deadline, passed up a $50 million contract extension from the Wild before the season started and becomes a free agent after it's over.