SUNRISE, Fla. -- Florida Panthers winger Todd Bertuzzi might have surgery to fix repair his injured back.

Bertuzzi, sidelined by a herniated disk since an Oct. 18 game at Washington, hasn't been responding to injections, Panthers spokesman Justin Copertino said Wednesday.

Panthers coach and general manager Jacques Martin and Bertuzzi have both discussed the possibility of surgery, but Copertino said no decision has been made yet.

Bertuzzi was acquired from Vancouver on June 23, along with Alex Auld and Bryan Allen, in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek. During his 2005-06 season with Vancouver, Bertuzzi had 25 goals and 46 assists in 82 games.

Panthers right winger Todd Bertuzzi, the centerpiece of the club's major off-season trade, underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back Thursday and is expected to be sidelined until around Christmas.

Bertuzzi, who was acquired in a multi-player deal that sent goaltender Roberto Luongo to Vancouver, left the lineup with back spasms during an Oct. 18 game at Washington and has not skated since.

While coach Jacques Martin did not offer a possible time frame in making the announcement after Thursday's morning skate, he told the Canadian Press he expected Bertuzzi to be out six to eight weeks.

Panthers orthopedic physician Al DiSimone conducted the surgery at a hospital in West Broward County.

Bertuzzi, 31, had undergone two injections to address his back pain since leaving the lineup, but when neither those nor rest solved the problem he decided to undergo the surgical procedure.

Over the past four years, his only games missed were because of a pair of suspensions, 10 games for leaving the bench in 2002-03 and 13 for his attack on Colorado's Steve Moore in 2003-04.

I heard today he will most likely miss 6-8 weeks.