NASHVILLE, Minn. -- Minnesota Wild forward Bill Muckalt could miss the rest of the season after he has surgery on his shoulder, the team announced.

Muckalt will have the surgery to repair the right shoulder he dislocated nearly two months ago. The best-case scenario is that he would return in April, the team said Friday.

Muckalt, signed as a free agent in the offseason, started the season with five goals in six games. On Oct. 22, Calgary's Denis Gauthier slammed Muckalt into the boards, causing the injury.

"It's too bad for him,'' coach Jacques Lemaire said. "He was looking for a new start, and he had a good start. It would have been interesting to see if could've done it all year.''