There's something to be said for Thomas Vanek's deplorable postseason performance. No, really.

The Minnesota Wild's high-priced free-agent signing last summer underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia last week.

"It bothered him for a lot of the second half," Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said via Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "We gave it some rest, but it didn't seem to be getting better, so we opted for the surgical route."

Vanek is expected to be fully recovered in six weeks, and be at full strength for training camp.