Not sure that would fly for the player or the team mates to be honest. I'm playing 82 games busting my ass for 2 M and AM gets to play just hte playoffs for 10 M AND takes my ice time? Hell no.
Roster of 23+ guys, you'll have a snitch. Plus, if player isn't practicing full load with the team for 6 months, he'll be hell out of shape for playoffs, unless he comes back 2+ months in advance.
Kucherov being a team player saved them from having to deal his buddies Killorn and likely Cirelli/Sergachev to get cap compliant.
This isn't something that's going to happen every season, only in rare situations. Tampa was in one of those rare situations where it paid off for them to delay having their star player return.
Kucherov missing most of the season and having to trade away Killorn and Cirelli/Sergachev to get cap compliant to play him in the last 10 or so games, or delay his return until game 1 of the playoffs and getting to keep a young star + Killorn and spend 10M more on their team than their competitors?
Easy choice. I mean this is a team that spent a 1st + more to rent Savard for the playoffs. What is the value to them to keep a young star + Killorn for the entire year and the playoffs? Certainly more than getting Kucherov some ice during garbage time when the Lightning are already solidly in the playoffs.
He reported that he begun feeling the discomfort December 3rd while training and the procedure was done December 20th. It’s the same thing Point had done in the spring of 2019 which caused him to miss the start of the season. Kucherov only had one hip done whereas Point had both. It’s not a conspiracy it’s blind luck.
Yeah I just don't believe it.
