Kraken's Jaden Schwartz needs hand surgery, will miss four to six weeks

The expansion Seattle Kraken have had a rough debut NHL season and delivered more bad news to fans on Thursday. 

According to the league's website, Seattle forward Jaden Schwartz will require surgery to repair an unspecified hand injury and will miss roughly four to six weeks of action. Schwartz didn't play in the last two games before the Kraken had three contests postponed due to setbacks related to COVID-19 and to attendance restrictions in portions of Canada. 

Seattle is scheduled to return to competitive play at the Colorado Avalanche this coming Monday. 

Per ESPN stats, Schwartz is second on the Kraken with 20 points and leads the team with 14 assists in 29 games. His departure from the lineup comes at a brutal time, as Seattle has dropped five straight matchups and eight of nine. 

According to TSN, the 29-year-old signed a five-year deal worth $27.5 million with the Kraken during the offseason. 

Seattle hasn't taken the ice since a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks last Saturday and sits at a Pacific-Division-worst 10-19-4 overall.