The Windy City has been dealt another blow, sports fans, as the Chicago Tribune reports that Chicago Blackhawks’ left winger Taylor Hall is expected to miss the remainder of the hockey season following a decision to undergo right knee surgery.

The former 2018 NHL MVP and No. 1 overall pick, Hall, was seen as an essential piece in the Blackhawks’ strategy this year, especially after being snagged in an aggressive off-season trade with Boston, which, Sports Illustrated notes, was in part due to the Bruins looking to free up some cap space.

Yet despite the Blackhawks' attempts to pair him with rookie sensation Connor Bedard, scooped up in this year’s draft, Hall's knee crumpled under the strain in a collision with Tampa Bay’s Michael Eyssimont on November 9. And this blow came right on the heels of his recovery from a left shoulder injury at the start of this season.

Chicago Tribune details that Hall attempted a return against Nashville and skated in two games before sitting out Wednesday night’s 7-3 thrashing at the hands of Columbus. Unfortunately, before the knee could get its act together, the Hawks had to pull the plug, opting for surgery that will relegate Hall's stats to a paltry two goals and two assists for the whole 10-game season.

With the Blackhawks’ current spiral down the standings, the Sports Illustrated update comes as a particularly painful pinch as the squad looks to rebuild what can only be generously described as a non-playoff-contending season. Hall’s $6 million cap hit will be another fun puzzle for the team's management to solve as they scramble to cover his loss on the ice. It's going to be one icy winter for Chicago's hockey faithful.