Two Chicago Blackhawks undergo unexpected surgeries: Will miss long-term

Disappointing news broke less than a week before the start of the preseason, as the Blackhawks announced that two players won't be able to start the season on time.

Indeed, veteran goaltender Laurent Brossoitthis time at the hip, and Ty Henry is set to have knee surgery soon.

Brossoit, who signed a two-year, $6.6 million contract with Chicago in July 2024, has yet to appear in a game with the organization, and had his third surgery in two years.

It's been a frustrating stretch for the veteran goalie, who was coming off the best year of his career with the Winnipeg Jets in 2023-24. In 23 games that season, he posted a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average. He also won the Stanley Cup in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Joining him on the LTIR will be Ty Henry, a young defenseman who was expected to push for more ice time in the organization.

This procedure will force him to the sidelines for an extended period. It's another example of how quickly plans can change as the season approaches.

Ben Pope confirmed the news on X, adding that AJ Spellacy will miss about a week due to a shoulder injury, while Jack Pridham is day-to-day with an infection:

This is bad timing for the Hawks, who hoped to see their young players get some reps during the training camp. In Brossoit's case, it's different, of course. At this point, hopes are that he will be able to return to the NHL healthy eventually.