Defenceman Sheldon Souray, the Edmonton Oilers' big off-season acquisition, will miss the next three to four weeks after separating his left shoulder, according to a report in the Edmonton Journal.

Souray, who signed a five-year, $27 million US contract in the summer, suffered the injury in Saturday night's 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks when he fell to the ice during a third-period fight with Vancouver's Byron Ritchie.

Sheldon Souray was injured in Saturday's game against Vancouver.
(Richard Lam/Canadian Press)

Souray, a six-foot-four, 233-pound native of Elk Point, Alta., enjoyed a career year last season with the Montreal Canadiens, after scoring 26 goals and picking up 38 assists.

Nineteen of his goals came on the power play, which set a new NHL record for power play goals by a defenceman.

Souray has one goal and one assist in six games this season.