Penguins forward Max Talbot is expected to miss the first one to two months of the upcoming season after having surgery on his left shoulder today, the team said.

UPMC physician Mark Rodosky performed the operation to repair a torn labrum. He also repaired Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar's dislocated left shoulder last fall. Gonchar missed 4 1/2 months before coming back in mid-February, a little ahead of schedule.

Talbot could be out a total of four or five months, the team said, meaning his return would be expected in November or December.

"Max has played with this problem for quite a while," general manager Ray Shero said in a statement, echoing what Talbot's agent, Pat Brisson, said yesterday, "and we all agreed it was best for him to have the surgery at this time.

"Although he will miss training camp and the start of the season, the doctors expect him to make a complete recovery."