Canucks' Hronek out 8 weeks after surgery

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek is out for approximately eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a lower-body injury, the team announced.

Hronek's also dealing with an upper-body issue, but it won't require any procedures. He's missed the Canucks' past two games after appearing to get hurt against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 27.

Vancouver's won both contests without Hronek. He's typically deployed on the top defensive pairing alongside captain Quinn Hughes.

Hronek registered nine points in 21 games this season before getting injured. He set a career high with 48 points in 2023-24 and was a plus-33. The Czech blue-liner parlayed that breakout campaign into an eight-year, $58-million extension.

The Canucks acquired Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings in March 2023 for a pair of draft picks.