Sabres' Jason Zucker to miss season start after hernia surgery

Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing 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 for Zucker's return but said the forward could potentially miss the first two weeks. Zucker, 34, is entering his third season with Buffalo, coming off a year in which he had 21 goals and 45 points in 62 regular-season games, along with two goals and two assists in 13 playoff games. He missed 20 games last season due to an assortment of injuries, 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 is expected to be cleared for the start of the season. Buffalo acquired the 25-year-old Crevier as part of a trade that sent Bo Byram to Chicago in June.

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