Sabres' Jason Zucker to miss start of season after sports hernia surgery

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Veteran Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker is expected to miss the start of the season after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.

General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen announced the injury on Wednesday as Sabres players reported for the start of training camp. Kekäläinen did not provide an exact timeline, but said Zucker could potentially miss the first two weeks.

The 34-year-old Zucker returns for a third season with Buffalo, coming off a year in which he had 21 goals and 45 points in 62 regular-season games. He added two goals and two assists in 13 playoff games.

Zucker has been a dependable two-way forward but missed 20 games due to an assortment of injuries last season, including an 11-game stretch in December.

Kekäläinen also said defenseman Louis Crevier will be sidelined to open camp while coming off shoulder surgery, though he's expected to be cleared for the start of the season. Buffalo acquired the 25-year-old as part of a trade that sent Bo Byram to Chicago in June.

The Sabres open the regular season at Columbus on Oct. 1.