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Taylor Hall to undergo shoulder surgery: “I injured it in junior and it’s been wearing away”

Edmonton Oilers v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 15: Taylor Hall #4 of the Edmonton Oilers awaits a face off against the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on December 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini announced that Taylor Hall -- the team’s second-leading scorer -- will undergo labral shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

“Recovery time will be between five and six months, so our hope is that Taylor will be ready for the start of next season,” Tambellini told the Oilers website (via Twitter). “He’s going to have an incredible career, so this is the right time to take care of business and get this [surgery] done.”

While there’s no denying Hall has the talent for an incredible career, there are concerns his body won’t allow it. The 20-year-old has been decimated by injury during his first two professional seasons -- he missed the final 17 games of last season with a broken ankle and 15 this year with a variety of ailments (shoulder injury, concussion, Frankenstein-ish head wound.)

There was also this ominous quote from Hall explaining when he first hurt his shoulder.

“Four years now -- I injured it in junior and it’s been wearing away,” he said. “I’ve been playing with a pretty bad shoulder for most of this year and I’m excited to see what I can do after it’s fixed.

/cue alarm bells

“It’s not the way I envisioned my career starting, but I hope to stay healthy after this and be a good Oiler for a long time.”

Hall isn’t the only young Edmonton star with health concerns. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the first overall pick at the 2011 draft, has missed 20 games this year with shoulder issues of his own.