Kucherov to Join Lightning for Playoffs

Nikita Kucherov's recovery from offseason hip surgery remains right on time, General Manager Julien BriseBois said Friday.

Kucherov has been on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) all season, the only reason the Tampa Bay Lightning have remained cap compliant.

He began skating this week and will spend between now and the playoffs getting back into game shape. The forward even joined the Lightning for their morning pre-game skate at Amalie Arena.

Nikita Kucherov (in white) doing some light stick handling as morning skate winds down. #Bolts pic.twitter.com/h9IrwEUV60
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) March 13, 2021

"I fully expect that he'll be able to contribute come playoff time and hopefully add a little oomph to our team," BriseBois said.

Kucherov's return is drawing attention to the team's cap situation. With currently $0 in cap space available, BriseBois expects he won't be able to make any moves in the lead up to the April 12 trade deadline.

"I don't know there is anything that any team can do at the deadline that would be as impactful as adding Nikita Kucherov to our group," he said. "We went into this season knowing that probably our only addition this year would be Nikita coming back for us during the playoffs," BriseBois said. "Hopefully, we can do a good job securing a playoff spot."

Head coach Jon Cooper said that having Kuvherov back on the ice with the team following a six-game road trip was a bit of a boost.

"[Kucherov] is a big part of our team, so anytime we can have him around, it's great for us," Cooper said. "Especially coming off that road trip and being able to see that, 'Hey, progress is being made.' He's starting to feel a little bit better. Is he far away from doing the things he usually does out there? Yes, but just to have him with the guys ... that's why we have a close group. Everyone loves being around each other."

Lightning in Tough Against The Cap

The Athletic's Joe Smith reported this week that the Lightning could exceed the salary cap by as much as the full $9.5 million average annual value of Kuverov's contract if he returned. But since the salary cap does not apply in the playoffs, they are in the clear to use him for Game 1.

ICYMI takeaways from #tblightning GM Julien BriseBois midseason talk:
- Why it's 'unlikely,' but not impossible, to add at deadline
- Nikita Kucherov 'exactly on track'
- Any chance Goodrow-Coleman return?
- Cal Foote development
- Areas of improvement https://t.co/TOt8F8wSL0
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) March 13, 2021

Here's how it works: player contracts are paid in full by the time playoffs begin, making the playoffs a cap-free zone. Remember when the Chicago Blackhawks always seemed to load up at the deadline before the playoffs?

In 2014-15, the Hawks had a playoff roster that exceeded the $69 million cap by over $5 million. It's because when Patrick Kane's injury caused him to go on LTIR, the team was free to use up the money they had tied up in his contract.

They brought in Kimmo Timmonen, Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins - all on expiring contracts - before the deadline. When Kane returned from injury for Game 1 on the playoffs, it didn't matter that they were over the cap because it was the playoffs. Those players they brought in for what ended up being a Stanley Cup win would be off the books the following year.

In 2012-13, the Pittsburgh Penguins did the same thing when they acquired Jussi Jokinen, Douglas Murray, Brendan Morrow and Jarome Iginla.

In the 2011 playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and San Jose Sharks were all over the cap heading into the playoffs.

It's an issue that NHL executives have talked about before, and it may be returning to the table if teams raise a stink about the Lightning's situation with Kucherov this year.