CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawk Goalie Darren Pang will undergo career-threatening knee surgery Monday that will put him out of action for at least this season, the team has announced.
Hawks' physician Dr. Louis Kolb announced Saturday the surgery will be performed in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. William Clancy.
'It's career-threatening,' Kolb said. 'But I hope his chances for a comeback are good.'
Kolb said the injury was not the result of a single incident. He said the left knee gradually deteriorated since Pang first hurt it in 1983 when he was playing for Ottawa at the junior level.
'They sewed up the medial collateral at that time, but didn't repair the anterior cruciate,' he said. 'I don't know why they didn't, but back then some people weren't dealing with it.'
General Manager Bob Pulford said the loss of Pang has him seeking a trade for an experienced backup to Alain Chevrier, who is unsigned but expected to be the Hawks' starting goalie.
Chevrier was the only player absent Saturday when the team showed up for physicals. The free agent goalie was a contract holdout Sunday when the Hawks held their first full day of training camp workouts.
'We're not that far apart, but it's taking longer than I thought it would,' Pulford said.
Chevrier reportedly is seeking a yearly salary in the range of $275,000.
