For the second straight year, Buffalo Sabres training camp will begin without Adam Mair. This time, so will the season.

The forward had surgery on his hip and will miss a minimum of six weeks, the team announced

Tuesday. Training camp starts Sept. 12 and the first regular-season game is Oct. 3, a little

less than five weeks away.

The 30-year-old Mair missed nearly all of training camp last year after undergoing

offseason knee surgery. He returned for the final preseason game. He finished last season with

a career-high eight goals in 75 games, adding 11 assists and 95 penalty minutes.

The injury to Mair temporarily loosens the logjam the Sabres have at forward heading into

training camp. They have at least six players expected to vie for three available starting

jobs.