Tampa Bay May Have Solved Their Cap Issues

The Tampa Bay Lightning are still very much under a cap crunch as the 2020-21 NHL season is set to begin in a couple of weeks. The team recently signed restricted free-agent Mikhail Sergachev, but they still have RFA's Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak left to sign before the season begins.

Insert, Nikita Kucherov. 

Told that Kucherov got a hip shot last week. Now apparently it's about seeing how he reacts to it and feels. If he's fine, then it's all good. But if he feels discomfort? Could be LTIR. We shall see. https://t.co/tNKxEmwZkD

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 21, 2020

Kucherov has been battling a hip injury and could find himself headed for LTIR, which would mean the Lightning should then have enough space to sign both Cirelli and Cernak under the cap, at least for the beginning of the season.

The team would still need to make moves over the next month or so to free up space where they can ice their best roster, but the news of a Kucherov injury could be a blessing in disguise for their current cap situation. From all accounts it sounds like the team is still discussing trades surrounding Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn so if Kucherov can play, they will need to pull the trigger. 

No doubt about it, the Lightning would rather have Kucherov in the lineup, but sometimes you just have to play the cards that are dealt. 

Photo credit: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire