UPDATE: The Flyers have clarified the report below, noting that the surgery is to remove a "small bone fragment." He'll go under the knife on Wednesday and will miss 6-to-8 weeks, according to the team. Six weeks from Wednesday is May 2; eight weeks is May 16.

This could be bad.

Im told @nhlflyers andresj Meszaros will have surgery this wk. Hear its 4herniated disc. Tough injury yr 4flyers but still having good yr

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) March 19, 2012

The Flyers announced this afternoon that there's no change in Meszaros' status, but you can make fun of Howard Eskin all you want (and we have) -- he's usually pretty darn reputable about this stuff.

I'm not gonna pretend to know anything about a herniated disc and the recovery time after surgery, but given that it's March 19 and there are 10 games left in the regular season, I can't say I'd be optimistic about potential return this year. I guess it all depends on how deep the team goes in the playoffs?

Let's just hope for the best. We know how important having a deep blue line is in the postseason.