A batch of medical updates for the #Blackhawks:

– Khaira out today (non-COVID illness)
– Murphy in concussion protocol
– T. Johnson out three months after successful neck surgery this morninghttps://t.co/ggrpkrFAV9

— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) December 3, 2021

The operation was an artificial disk replacement surgery, the same surgery that Jack Eichel underwent last month, according to sources. Team Physician Michael Terry announced that Johnson will be out for three months to recover from the surgery and that the prognosis was good.

Before undergoing surgery, Johnson had been trying to manage his neck pain “conservatively” for several weeks before opting to have surgery. He last practiced on Nov. 17 and last played on Oct. 29. He is being placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 29.

The Blackhawks brought in Johnson and a second-round pick via trade this past offseason with the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brent Seabrook’s contract. For his career, Johnson has scored 364 points via 162 goals and 202 assists in 597 games with the Lightning and Blackhawks. Johnson registered one goal and two assists in eight games this season for Chicago leading up to his injury.

In addition to the news of Johnson’s surgery, the Blackhawks announced Connor Murphy entered the concussion protocol and forward Jujhar Khaira missed practice with a non-COVID-19-related illness.

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