Steven Stamkos occurring long-term injured reserve does not imply Nikita Kucherov is coming back from it, in line with Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Stamkos, the workforce’s star middle, was positioned on LTIR on Thursday with a lower-body damage. He has 34 factors in 38 video games this season, with 17 targets and 17 assists. Stamkos can be eligible to return to the lineup on Could 2 on the earliest.
“On no account are we saying that his season is over. That is simply one thing that he has to undergo right here for slightly bit and, for us, [it’s] so he is in tiptop form if we make the playoffs,” Cooper stated Friday.
Cooper stated the workforce ought to know inside the subsequent 24 hours whether or not the newest damage is expounded to the core muscle challenge that stored Stamkos out of all however one playoff recreation final season for the Stanley Cup champions.
Kucherov, who was NHL MVP for the Lightning in 2019, has but to play this season after present process hip surgical procedure in January. His placement on LTIR enabled Tampa Bay to get below the wage cap for the season, as his damage rehab pointed towards a playoff return for Kucherov. However with Stamkos and his $eight.5 million cap hit occurring injured reserve, there was rapid hypothesis that the Lightning would have the monetary flexibility to carry Kucherov ($9.5 million cap hit) again to the lineup.
Cooper, nevertheless, shot down that concept.
“I simply do not anticipate that taking place. I do not know the way we might make that occur. The entire plan for us is to carry Stammer again as quickly as he is prepared. If [Kucherov] have been to be prepared, that may be weeks forward of schedule for him, for him to play within the common season,” he stated.
Kucherov has been skating with the Lightning in a noncontact jersey, and has additionally skated with the workforce’s taxi squad. Cooper stated that he believes Kucherov might be forward of schedule however that “he is nowhere close to being able to enter into contact drills or something like that” in observe with the Lightning.
“Relaxation continues to be what’s finest for him. Is he making strides? After all, there is no query that he is making strides. However you are attending to that time now the place it is slightly little bit of a tease. You are feeling fairly good about your self, however whenever you go see the individuals who make the selections about your well being and so they say, ‘You are not prepared but,'” Cooper stated.
The Lightning are 29-12-2 with 13 video games remaining of their season. They’re in second place by way of factors proportion (.698) within the Central Division behind Carolina (.714).