Florida Panthers RW Kris Versteeg has left hip surgery; missed 11 games last season

Florida Panthers' Kris Versteeg (32) reacts after New Jersey Devils' Bryce Salvador (24) was unable to stop Versteeg's goal during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Sunrise, Fla., Friday, April 13, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/J Pat Carter

SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers right wing Kris Versteeg is recovering from surgery to repair a cyst problem that impaired mobility in his left hip.

The team says Versteeg had the surgery on Wednesday in Nashville.

Versteeg will be a restricted free agent this off-season, and the Panthers want him to return. He missed 11 games during the regular season and still established career-bests in goals (23) and points (54), while tying his season-best in assists (31) for the Southeast Division champions.

Versteeg had three goals and two assists in seven playoff games for the Panthers, who lost in an Eastern Conference first-round series to the New Jersey Devils.