"Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back earlier this week. He is not expected to miss a significant amount of time when the Thrashers report for training camp in September.

The Thrashers and Lehtonen's agent, Larry Kelly, confirmed the surgery to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.

According to the Thrashers, Lehtonen underwent the procedure at St. Joseph's Hospital on Monday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Plas James and took approximately 25 minutes.

"We expect him back on the ice by the start of training camp or shortly after," Thrashers spokesman Rob Koch said. "