• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Announce Kucherov Will Miss 2020-21 Regular Season

By Eugene Helfrick December 24th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

On the same day that the 2020-21 NHL regular season schedule was announced to much discussion and speculation, the Tampa Bay Lightning made an announcement of their own that doused some of this excitement for fans. Nikita Kucherov, one of the league’s superstar talents, will miss the 2020-21 regular season due to a hip injury.

GM Julien BriseBois on Nikita Kucherov during today’s availability: “Unfortunately, [he] has a hip injury that will require surgery…. that means he will not be available to play this upcoming regular season.”

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) December 23, 2020

To put it simply, this will be a significant loss for the Lightning, as Kucherov is one of the top offensive drivers in the entire NHL. In the 2018-19 season, he posted 128 points en route to winning the Art Ross trophy as the leagues’ MVP.

While the 2019-20 season was a relative down year, Kucherov was still on track to break 100 points for the third straight season before the COVID-19 pause. Then, throughout the 2020 playoffs, Kucherov posted 34 points in 25 games, which helped lead the Lightning to their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning
Losing the offensive talents of Nikita Kucherov for the 2020-21 regular season will be a major blow for the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

So, while Tampa Bay are adept at working through adversity, Kucherov is one of those players that you just can’t replace. His offensive production will be sorely missed in a short season where playing conditions will be completely different than any time before.

Lightning Gain Cap Flexibility With Kucherov’s Injury

There is one positive thing that comes out of Kucherov’s injury, however. Currently, the Lightning sit $7 million above the cap ceiling, which is within the 10% range that they are allowed to carry during the offseason.

Related: Lightning Sign Defensemen Cernak and Rutta to Multi-Year Deals

When Kucherov is eventually placed on Long Term Injury Reserve (LTIR), Tampa Bay will be able to use his $9.5 million cap hit to become compliant once again. For a team in a significant cap crunch, that money will allow them to maneuver a situation that once looked impossible.

This is far from a perfect fix for Tampa Bay, however. Even if Kucherov misses the entire 2020-21 season, his absence will not clear enough space to sign their final major restricted free agent, Anthony Cirelli, who will likely garner a $3.5 to $4.5 million extension.

Anthony Cirelli Tampa Bay Lightning
While Kucherov’s injury may allow the Lightning some wiggle room with the cap, it likely won’t give them enough space to sign Anthony Cirelli without making at least one trade. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

This means that Tampa Bay will likely need to swing at least one trade before the start of the 2020-21 season in order to make everything fit. So, while Kucherov’s injury will offer some breathing room, it isn’t a complete answer for the Lightning.

  • Tags
  • Nikita Kucherov
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Jan 23rd 1:30 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Green Says Canucks Have Looked ‘a Little Immature at Times’ [Video]

Jan 23rd 1:20 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

5 Reasons Maple Leafs’ Fans Are Smiling After Friday’s Win Over Oilers

Jan 23rd 12:32 PM
New Jersey Devils

Top-5 Kansas City Scouts of All-Time

Jan 23rd 12:00 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Tavares, Andersen, Marner & Brooks

Jan 23rd 10:35 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Joseph’s Proving to the Lightning That He’s Here to Stay

Jan 23rd 10:05 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Have an Underappreciated & Overshadowed Star in Girard

Jan 23rd 9:45 AM
Boston Bruins

Flyers’ Voracek Makes History in Loss to Bruins

Jan 23rd 9:25 AM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes’ Season Put on Pause Due to COVID-19 Protocol

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information