Penguins Whitney out for at least three months

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney is expected to be sidelined for between three and five months after having foot surgery.

Whitney, a first-round pick by the Penguins in the 2002 draft, had the operation in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday.

"Ryan has been bothered by this condition in his (left) foot for some time," general manager Ray Shero said in a statement on Saturday.

"He consulted a number of specialists in an effort to correct the problem without surgery but it was ultimately determined surgery was the best path to take.

"He will miss the start of the 2008-09 season but the doctors tell us he will be able to play pain-free when he returns to the lineup this season."

Whitney, 25, first experienced a problem with his foot when the Penguins played the Ottawa Senators in the opening round of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In the 2007-08 regular season he was frustrated after registering 12 goals and 28 assists in 76 games.

"I just couldn't live on one healthy foot anymore, let alone try to skate," Whitney told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review before his operation.

"I need to perform better than I did and I know that is the expectation. I've always thought skating was the biggest part of my game and last season I couldn't skate like I can.

"We've tried everything to avoid surgery because we knew it would mean missing a chunk of the season but nothing worked."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Tony Jimenez)