EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Los Angeles Kings defenceman Matt Greene will have shoulder surgery on Thursday.

The Kings announced Tuesday that Greene will be out indefinitely.

Greene has played in just three games this season for the first-place Kings, going scoreless with eight penalty minutes.

The 32-year-old former alternate captain was a key contributor to Los Angeles' Stanley Cup champion teams in 2012 and 2014, providing physical defence and steady leadership.

He scored a career-high 15 points in 2011-12, but has scored just 16 points in 128 games over the last four seasons. Greene played five games during the 2012-13 regular season, undergoing surgery on a herniated disc in his back.

Greene again was limited to 38 games during the 2013-14 regular season, but played all 82 games last year.