A crucial summer of development will be washed away for Olli Juolevi.

Juolevi will undergo a microdiscectomy procedure to repair a disc in his lower back. A timeline for recovery will be revealed after the surgery, though it typically takes several weeks to get back to strenuous physical activity.

It’s unfortunate timing that will likely delay Juolevi’s path to the NHL.

The former 5th overall pick came to training camp last year sluggish and immobile after a summer of bulking.

He recovered well following an underwhelming preseason, registering 7 goals and 19 points in 38 games for TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga.

The pressure’s on Juolevi to take the next step with the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev already making their marks at the NHL level.