Blues forward Kariya undergoes left hip surgery; out indefinitely

ST. LOUIS - Blues left wing Paul Kariya had left hip surgery on Monday and could miss the rest of the regular season.

"We haven't ruled him out, but what's the sense of rushing something as serious as this?" team president John Davidson said Tuesday. "I think he'll be back to 110 per cent, whether it's late this season or next season. Probably next season."

Kariya had two goals and 13 points in the Blues' first 11 games before injuring the hip Nov. 5 against Anaheim.

An MRI had revealed injuries in two spots in the joint area of the left hip.

Davidson said the surgery repaired a torn labrum inside the joint along with "some bone work."

"He'll be 100 per cent a long time before camp," Davidson said. "He'll be back to being Paul Kariya that should be better than he has been for years."

The 34-year-old Kariya is in the second season of a US$18-million, three-year contract.

The surgery was performed in Vail, Colo., and Kariya will stay in Colorado to begin rehab.