Damian Rhodes to have surgery
ATLANTA, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Damian Rhodes, out more than a month with a sprained right ankle, will undergo arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Rhodes, 30, has not played since he was injured in a 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Nov. 17.
He was placed on injured reserve nine days later and had the ankle put in a cast on Friday. The knee was injured during rehabilitation, general manager Don Waddell said Saturday night.
The first acquisition in the history of the NHL's newest expansion franchise, Rhodes is 3-7-2 with one shutout and a 3.29 goals-against average in 13 games. He is expected to remain sidelined through next month's All-Star break.
The Thrashers have struggled under rookie goalies Norm Maracle, Scott Langkow and Scott Fankhouser, going 4-14-2 in the last 20 games. Waddell has said he would not decide whether to pursue another netminder until he learned Rhodes' status.
-- --
