Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom will have surgery on Friday in Vail, Colo., to address two cysts on the bony area of his left hip.

Acting General Manager Tom Lynn said that in a worst-case scenario Backstrom, 31, could be out for six months, into training camp time. Lynn, though, said a more "average" timetable is three to five months.

The operation will be performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, the same orthopedic surgeon forward Marian Gaborik had for his two hip surgeries -- last May on his right hip and in January on his left hip.

Until Philippon performs the surgery, the extent of the damage, and a clearer picture of Backstrom's recovery time, will not be known.

Still, even that average span Lynn spoke of is a timeframe that on the high end goes into September -- or the start of Wild training camp.