Add another name to the long list of Edmonton Oilers who’ve played their last game this season.
Defenceman Ladislav Smid, who’s been bothered by a chronic neck problem all year, will require surgery and miss the final 19 games of the season.
Smid had been optimistic as recently as Thursday that a little time off would be enough to remedy the problem, but after meeting with doctors they decided the best course of action would be surgery and a summer to recover.
Elsewhere on the medical front, Sheldon Souray remains in hospital receiving treatment for an infection in his hand.
Souray broke a bone in his hand in a pre-Olympic fight with Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla. But after having surgery to repair the break several weeks ago, Souray has run into complications.
“It’s serious enough that they’re keeping him in the hospital,” said head coach Pat Quinn.
As well, winger J.F. Jacques had surgery on his back, which will keep him out for the rest of the season as well. It’s the second time in the last two years that Jacques gone under the knife for his back troubles.
Winger Ales Hemsky, who had surgery to repair his shoulder, and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who had surery on his back, are both done for the year as well.
If you count winger Ryan Stone, who’s been out since Jan. 14 with a sore knee that’s still giving him trouble, it makes six Oilers who are done for the season.
Meanwhile, Ethan Moreau’s neck is bothering him, limiting his range of motion and keeping him out of the lineup until further notice.
“The medical staff said no practice and no games till they get to the bottom of it,” said Quinn.
robert.tychkowski@sunmedia.ca
