Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa is out indefinitely with a broken hand.
According to the team, the 33-year-old will require surgery.
Erik Erlendsson reports Bieksa suffered the injury after taking a Victor Hedman shot to the hand in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bieksa is a key piece of the Canucks defense averaging over 21 minutes a night in ice time. He has nine points and a minus-4 rating in 45 games this season.
Bieksa’s injury is the second significant one to the Canucks’ blue line this season. Dan Hamhuis missed 21 games with a groin injury and just recently returned to action.