Flyers captain Giroux has surgery after golf injury

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux will need 5-6 weeks of recovery after surgery Thursday on his right index finger. According to the team, Giroux was injured while playing golf in Ottawa.

"Giroux was golfing today when his golf club shattered and splintered into his index finger," general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "Although there were no broken bones, there was some damage to his extensor tendons in his finger. He is expected to have a full recovery in 5-6 weeks."

The surgery was performed at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.

"It was just a freak thing," Giroux told the (Philadelphia) Daily News. "I was taking a swing and my club hit a little behind the ball. The shaft of the club shattered, but my hand kept going on the swing and the shattered part went right into my finger."

Giroux's father Raymond told Le Droit, a Gatineau, Quebec newspaper, that Claude hit a ball and the club broke in two; one piece flew in the air then landed on his hand and cut him.

Giroux signed an eight-year, $66.2 million contract extension in early July.

The Flyers open training camp Sept. 12 and start the regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 2, seven weeks from this past Wednesday. Giroux, who sustained a neck injury playing in Germany during the lockout, after having offseason surgery to repair ligaments in each wrist, has missed five NHL games since becoming a regular during the 2009-10 season.

"I think I'll really be able to get back to doing things in 2-to-3 weeks," Giroux told the newspaper. "I will be able to skate, and get in skating shape, but I won't be able to be lifting any weights for a while."

Giroux, 25, was invited to participate in Canada's pre-Olympic camp, to take place Aug. 25-28 in Calgary. The forward had 13 goals and 48 points in 48 games last season. In 2011-12, he was third in the NHL in scoring with 93 points.

"This is more frustrating than you even know," Giroux said. "I really feel like this was my best summer of training I've had so far. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. This really isn't a big deal, though. Something like this isn't going to hold me back."