Main playoff scorer Nikita Kucherov is anticipated to overlook the whole common season due to a hip harm that requires surgical procedure, a blow to the Tampa Bay Lightning that additionally comes with a silver lining for the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Kucherov received’t be out there for the 56-game NHL season that’s scheduled to run from Jan. 13-Could 8. Common supervisor Julien BriseBois is optimistic the 27-year-old can be again for the playoffs and stated Kucherov’s absence will permit the Lightning the long-term wage reduction to be salary-cap compliant with the remainder of their key gamers below contract.
“These are the playing cards that we’ve been dealt,” BriseBois stated on a video name Wednesday. “It’s our job as a gaggle – gamers, coaches, administration – to get ourselves into the playoffs in order that we give Kuch a possibility to compete this 12 months and assist us defend this Stanley Cup championship as we’re chasing one other one.”
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Kucherov had a postseason-best 27 assists and 34 factors regardless of enjoying by way of a groin harm. BriseBois stated Kucherov reported discomfort in early December, tried a rehab routine with a cortisone shot and solely determined to have surgical procedure subsequent week after none of that alleviated his ache.
“Nobody loves enjoying hockey greater than Nikita Kucherov,” BriseBois stated. “I understand how a lot it pains him that he can be lacking the common season. I additionally know the way arduous he’s going to work to get again as quickly as potential.”
Earlier than serving to the Lightning win the Cup final season within the bubble, Kucherov received the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2018-19, main the league with 128 factors.
With the ability to put Kucherov and his $9.5 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve will permit Tampa Bay to re-sign its closing key restricted free agent, heart Anthony Cirelli. BriseBois stated Tampa Bay had the framework of a contract in place with Cirelli, and agent Pat Morris stated the perimeters are engaged on it.
The Lightning are taking advantage of the unhealthy harm information by getting different signings carried out this week. On Tuesday, they re-signed Erik Cernak to an $8.85 million, three-year deal and introduced again fellow defenseman Jan Rutta for $2.6 million over two years. On Wednesday, they re-signed ahead Mathieu Joseph for $1.475 million over two years and Alex Volkov for $700,000 this season.
“I’ll nonetheless be exploring alternatives to unload some wage and create a bit extra flexibility for us,” BriseBois stated. “However no less than as of now I do know that worst case we are able to go into the season, we’re going to be cap compliant, we’ve been capable of signal everybody we needed to have signed and we’re going to have the ability to ice a very aggressive hockey workforce this 12 months and chase one other championship.”
With out Kucherov’s harm, Tampa Bay probably would have wanted to commerce a key participant to get below the $81.5 million wage cap that’s flat in mild of the pandemic. The workforce put veteran ahead Tyler Johnson on waivers in October to clear his $5 million off the books, however he went unclaimed by the league’s different 30 groups.
BriseBois stated Johnson understood the scenario and was skilled throughout conversations after final season. The Lightning tried to work out a commerce with a workforce serious about buying Johnson, however the monetary image didn’t work out.
“If Tyler Johnson is on my workforce to start out the 12 months, I believe that’s a great factor as a result of Tyler Johnson’s a great participant,” BriseBois stated. “He’s going to assist us win hockey video games, and in the end that’s what I wish to do.”
That’s harder with out Kucherov and is extra pressing with fewer video games through the common season. Simply 4 out of eight groups within the quickly realigned Central Division will make the playoffs.
“Yearly, we’ve good groups that miss the playoffs,” BriseBois stated. “It’s not going to be straightforward. It wasn’t going to be straightforward even with Kuch within the lineup, and now it’s extra of a problem.”
The post Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov needs hip surgery, out for regular season appeared first on Correct Success.
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