PITTSBURGH (AP) -Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney will be out for three to five months after surgery to correct a chronic foot problem.

Whitney is recovering from surgery performed Friday in Charlotte, N.C.

General manager Ray Shero said Whitney has been bothered by the foot problem for some time and tried to correct it without surgery.

Whitney enters the second year of a $24 million, six-year deal. He had 12 goals and 28 assists for the Penguins last season. He added a goal and five assists during the Penguins' run to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Detroit in six games.