Mark Eaton will undergo surgery on right hip; out indefinitely

 Veteran defenseman Mark Eaton, who flew back to Long Island yesterday for a medical evaluation, requires surgery on his right hip and is out indefinitely.

The 33-year-old is the latest loss to a blue line that has been absolutely decimated by injuries this season.

Top defenseman Mark Streit has yet to play this season because of a pre-season shoulder injury, Mike Mottau underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip late last month and is done for the year, and Radek Martinek is on injured reserve with an injured left wrist. 

Milan Jurcina, Andrew MacDonald, Bruno Gervais,  and Jack Hillen have also all missed time at some point this season. Travis Hamonic is the defenseman on the current roster with the longest streak of games played; the rookie will play in his 18th straight game tonight.

And compound that with the fact that the Islanders recently traded James Wisniewski, a key off-season acquisition, to Montreal for a compensatory second round pick and conditional fifth-rounder.

No word yet on whether the Islanders will call up a defenseman for the remainder of their longest road trip of the season. Tonight they play the 3rd of a five-game 11-day tour of the Western Conference.