Photo: Chris Gordon

The Washington Capitals have announced that Brooks Laich has undergone surgery to alleviate his ongoing groin problems. His recovery is expected to take 4-6 weeks, effectively ending his 2013-14 season.

Laich’s injury has been nagging for over two years, costing him most of last season and portions of this one. Last week, Laich met with groin specialist Michael Brunt in St. Louis.

He did not travel with the team to California.

Brooks Laich underwent a successful procedure to release a tight adductor. This procedure generally takes 4-6 weeks for a full recovery. — CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 17, 2014

Laich has been struggling to stay in the lineup since suffering a groin injury during the 2012 lockout while playing with the Kloten Flyers of Switzerland. Laich missed all but 9 games of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season and will miss 31 games in 2013-14.

That is a reversal from Laich’s earlier career. Between 2007 and 2012, Laich played 405 of 410 games.

Laich struggled this season, scoring just 8 goals and 7 assists in 51 games.

Laich has the team’s third longest contract. He is set to earn an average of 4.5M dollars through the 2016-17 season.

Players in long-term injured reserve status are ineligible from compliance buyouts under the new collective-bargaining agreement.