Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri underwent thumb surgery on Monday, sources confirmed to ESPN.
It’s unclear if Kadri will be able to return for the Stanley Cup finals after Colorado advanced there by sweeping Edmonton on Monday night.
Kadri was injured after being hit from behind by Oilers winger Evander Kane in Game 3 on Saturday, a 4-2 Avalanche victory. Kane received a one-game suspension for the play, and sat out Game 4 on Monday.
Kane initially received a five-minute major for boarding. Once the NHL’s department of player safety determined that it was a dangerous play and Kadri did not intentionally put himself in a vulnerable position, it considered Kane’s prior history (three previous suspensions and two fines) plus the impact of the injury in its ruling of a one-game ban.
Kadri, 31, had a career regular season for the Avalanche, scoring 28 goals and 87 points in 71 games. The center was continuing that production in the playoffs with six goals and 14 points through 13 games.
TSN was the first to report on Kadri’s surgery.