Senators' Erik Karlsson: Out four months after foot surgery

Karlsson was given a recovery timetable of four months following surgery on his left foot Wednesday, theScore.com reports.

As a testament to his toughness and determination during the Stanley Cup playoffs, the elite defenseman reportedly played through a pair of foot fractures and sustained muscle damage to his ankle. A four-month recovery could cause Karlsson to get off to a bit of a late start next season, as the Senators won't be taking any more chances with his ailment; he's far too important to the club and will cost $6.5 million annually through the 2018-19 campaign. It's early, so we don't yet see the need to bump Karlsson far down in the rankings, but this latest development just might be enough to consider drafting San Jose's Brent Burns ahead of him.