Flyers' Kevin Hayes to miss start of season after abdominal surgery

The Philadelphia Flyers will enter training camp without center Kevin Hayes. 

According to the NHL's website, Flyers coach Alain Vigneault told reporters Tuesday that Hayes will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after he had abdominal surgery earlier in the day. 

"Kevin was skating yesterday with his teammates and he felt something in his groin, had an MRI and this morning got operated on," Vigneault explained while adding that it's expected Hayes will miss roughly 10 regular-season games. Per The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Hayes had an operation in May to repair a sports hernia. 

Hayes notched 12 goals and 19 assists in 55 games for Philadelphia last season. 

"This happened yesterday, and he got operated on this morning so I'm not sure if it's related to what happened last year," Vigneault said of Hayes' latest setback. "… Injuries are part of the game. You have to expect them, that's why you have depth. That's why you need players to be ready at all times." 

Unproven commodity Morgan Frost, 22, is a candidate to take Hayes' spot in the lineup.  

The Flyers begin the campaign on Oct. 15 at home against the Vancouver Canucks.