By Andrew Allsman| Posted: February 9, 2013| Contact |
The Blues announced on Saturday evening that veteran forward
Jamie Langenbrunner will undergo surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip. His
injury will likely sideline him for the remainder of the season, and could put an end the
Cloquet, Minnesota native’s career.
Langenbrunner has other plans.
“The decision was made that it made more sense (to have the
surgery now),” said Langenbrunner. “It’s not the choice I wanted to have to
make, but I didn’t really have another option.”
“I don’t want to end my career like this. Hopefully I can
get this done and have the six months to get myself back into shape and come
back stronger.”
Langenbrunner, 37, is an 18-year NHL veteran who has spent
one full season with the Blues. He was inked to one-year contract extension
this past offseason, and has played in four games this year for the Blues. The
team told Langenbrunner they still want him to travel with the team despite the injury.
“I signed this past summer because I love our team and
because of the chance we have going forward,” said Langenbrunner. “Not being in
the locker room is probably the hardest part. I guess I’ll be some kind of
scout from the press box.”
Langenbrunner first felt the pain a few weeks ago, but isn't sure when the injury first occurred.
“I’m not really sure
when it happened,” said Langenbrunner. “It could have happened years ago. It’s
just something that has been really painful the last few weeks. After my last
game it got to the point where it was almost unbearable.”
Langenbrunner is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion. He won
cups with Dallas (1999) and New Jersey (2003). Langenbrunner has amassed 663
points (243 goals, 420 assists) in 1,100 career NHL games.
Since being drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round
of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Langenbrunner has spent time with Stars, New
Jersey Devils, and most recently, the St. Louis Blues.
Langenbunner joined the Blues on July 6, 2011, and since
has totaled 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 74 games with the team.
Langenbrunner is best known for his time with the Stars, in
which he won his first of two Stanley Cups. During the 1998-99 playoffs,
Langenbrunner had 10 goals, and seven assists, leading the Stars to the Stanley
Cup finals, and ultimately the franchise’s only Stanley Cup Championship.
If this is truly the end for Langenbrunner, it will be the
end of a great career.