Sharks D Simek to undergo surgery on his right knee - GM Wilson

San Jose Sharks rookie defenseman Radim Simek will have to undergo surgery on his right knee, general manager Doug Wilson confirmed on Thursday. Simek suffered a torn ACL and MCL during the first period of a game against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. His knee was bent after the Jets' Andrew Copp fell on his right leg.

"It's not easy to see," Sharks teammate Tomas Hertl told the media Thursday morning. "We saw the play and it was pretty ugly. He'll come back even stronger, but it's for sure bad luck. It's a tough blow for us because he was playing really good hockey with (Brent Burns)." No timetable for Simek's return to play has been determined, and the date of his surgery has not been scheduled.

Regarding Simek's status for the rest of the season, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said in the Mercury News, "I don't know if I've heard that yet. He's done for quite a while. I think it depends on how long we play. But he's out for a long time." Paired primarily with Brett Burns this season, Simek, 26, has collected one goal and eight assists in 41 games for the Sharks, who lead the Western Conference and Pacific Division with 94 points -- one point ahead of the Calgary Flames -- going into Thursday's action. The Sharks are also missing defenseman Erik Karlsson, who hopes to be back in time for the playoffs.