Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo has torn his Achilles' tendon and is out indefinitely.
The team said Friday that Salo was hurt "while training" and would not comment further. But a report in his native Finland says the 35-year-old was hurt while playing floor hockey and will be out at least three months.
Salo had nine goals and 28 points in 68 games last season and has been a key part of the power play and penalty kill in his seven years in Vancouver. But he is also a frequent visitor to the injured list, missing an average of 19 games the last five seasons with a variety of injuries.
Salo has 81 goals and 273 points in 665 NHL games but has never played a full 82-game schedule during an 11-season career that started with four years in Ottawa.
Salo is in the final year of a contract worth $3.5 million, and his recovery could affect the Canucks' need to trade one or more of their defensemen. Vancouver has nine proven NHL defenders after trading for Keith Ballard and signing coveted free agent Dan Hamhuis earlier this summer.
Six of those defensemen are scheduled to make at least $3.25 million next year, and Vancouver is already $1 million over the NHL's $59.4 million salary cap.
SOURCE: The Associated Press
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