via the Nashville Predators,

Predators General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that defenseman Ryan Ellis is expected to miss several months due to recovery from offseason surgery to repair a lower-body ailment.

Poile is hopeful Ellis will be able to return around the start of the new year.

The 26-year-old blueliner tallied a career-high 16 goals and 38 points during the 2016-17 season and battled injuries during the playoffs while helping to guide Nashville to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.