OffThePost.org

St. Louis Blues left wing Paul Kariya will have surgery on his left hip and could miss the rest of the season, the latest hit for a franchise beset by injuries to key players.

The 34-year-old Kariya hasn't played since Nov. 5 in Anaheim, when his body was wrenched by a hit from behind and he tore muscle fibers near the top of his thigh. He had apparently recovered from the initial injury and skated with the team three days this week, but cut short his workout Friday after only about 10 minutes.

An MRI exam Friday revealed additional damage inside the hip and Kariya and the Blues elected for surgery on Saturday after consulation with several doctors. The decision was announced near the end of the first period of a game against the San Jose Sharks.

Team president John Davidson said there was no timetable for Kariya's return, and said surgery had not yet been scheduled.

I can't help but think the Blues are kinda/sorta hoping for Kariya to get injured again. They, like the Avs, are a much better team without him.

[Kariya] recovered very well from two hip surgeries last season and appears to be skating better than he has in years.

But Kariya, 35, has no goals or points in eight games and has been taken off the power play — his bread and butter over an impressive career — by head coach Andy Murray.

But Kariya’s got lots of company in the under-achieving department.

Maybe one of the most surprising players in that group is David Backes, the young centre the Canucks went after with an offer sheet two summers ago.

Backes, who had a break-out season last year with 31 goals, is stuck at one goal and one assist and is a minus-5 in 15 games.

Brad Boyes, who had 43- and 33-goals seasons the last two years, is stuck at two goals in 15 games and has none in seven.

It was extrapolated that youngsters Patrik Berglund and T.J. Oshie — after playing so well in their rookie seasons — would be big part of the puzzle for the Blues this time around. Each have two goals.