Hawks winger Carcillo out for season with torn ACL

Let's review how costly Daniel Carcillo's hit against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert on Jan. 2 was and could prove to be.

For starters, it earned Carcillo a seven-game suspension.

Carcillo hurt his left knee on the play when he fell to the ice with the Blackhawks announcing on Friday the 26-year-old left winger would undergo reconstructive surgery on his left knee Tuesday to repair a torn ACL.

It all puts Carcillo's future with the Hawks in question considering he needs six months of rehab and the fact he signed only a one-year contract for $775,000 as a free agent last July.

Carcillo wound up appearing in only 28 games and serving three suspensions totaling 11 games.

The Hawks took nearly two weeks to announce the extent of Carcillo's injury. He has served five games of the seven-game suspension.

“This decision was made (Friday) after much evaluation and consideration of various options,” Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry said. “We anticipate a full return in six months.”

Carcillo was injured when he drove Gilbert into the glass behind the net at the United Center and fell to the ice awkwardly after the violent collision.

In announcing Carcillo's suspension on Jan. 4, NHL vice president of player safety Branden Shanahan cited the nine times previously Carcillo had either been suspended or fined for his actions.

Carcillo has not been on the Hawks' injured reserve list.

The Hawks did activate Marcus Kruger from IR on Friday, sending Ben Smith back to Rockford.