Further details have emerged on the mysterious ailment that sidelined Steven Stamkos for all but 2:47 and one unforgettable goal during the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s run to their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
In a Zoom availability Thursday, Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said the team’s captain was dealing with a compensation injury triggered during his rehab from sports hernia surgery in early March.
BriseBois told reporters that the 30-year-old is expected to be ready for next season — whenever that is — and he is looking at a “weeks-long recovery versus months.” Stamkos is slated to meet with a specialist next week.
The Lightning captured the Stanley Cup after a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 on Monday.
Stamkos suited up for Game 3 of the series and made an immediate impact, scoring the second goal of the Lightning’s eventual 5-2 win just seven minutes into the tilt. But after re-aggravating his injury he was shelved for the rest of the game and the series. Prior to that game, he last played on Feb. 25 due to the core muscle injury.
Stamkos posted 29 goals and 66 points through 57 regular-season games in 2019-20 before being sidelined.
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