Stanley Cup champs take big hit with loss of Kucherov

Leading playoff scorer Nikita Kucherov is expected to miss the entire regular season because of a hip injury that requires surgery, a blow to the Tampa Bay Lightning that also comes with a silver lining for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Kucherov won’t be available for the 56-game NHL season that’s scheduled to run from Jan. 13-May 8. General manager Julien BriseBois is optimistic the 27-year- old will be back for the playoffs and said Kucherov’s absence will allow the Lightning the longterm salary relief to be salary-cap compliant with the rest of their key players under contract.

“Those are the cards that we’ve been dealt,” BriseBois said on a video call Wednesday. “It’s our job as a group — players, coaches, management — to get ourselves into the playoffs so that we give Kuch an opportunity to compete this year and help us defend this Stanley Cup championship as we’re chasing another one.”

Kucherov had a postseason-best 27 assists and 34 points despite playing through a groin injury. BriseBois said Kucherov reported discomfort in early December, tried a rehab regimen with a cortisone shot and only decided to have surgery next week after none of that alleviated his pain.

“No one loves playing hockey more than Nikita Kucherov,” BriseBois said. “I know how much it pains him that he will be missing the regular season. I also know how hard he’s going to work to get back as soon as possible.”

Before helping the Lightning win the Cup last season in the bubble, Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2018-19, leading the league with 128 points.

OUTDOOR GAME IN CAROLINA IS CANCELED >> The NHL has postponed the outdoor Stadium Series game in North Carolina that was expected to be played in February. The announcement was made Wednesday as the league firms up its full schedule for a season that will be shortened to 56 regular-season games for each team because of the pandemic. The Carolina Hurricanes had been scheduled to host the annual Stadium Series game on Feb. 20 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

The NHL says the game will be played in North Carolina at another time. BLACKHAWKS F NYLANDER COULD MISS SEASON >> Chicago Blackhawks forward Alex Nylander could miss the entire 2021 season because of a left knee injury.

T he 22- year- old Nylander got hurt during the playoffs. Team physician Michael Terry said Wednesday that Nylander rested and then trained conservatively, but symptoms returned when he started to skate again.

Nylander had surgery Monday to repair a meniscus tear in the knee but is not expected to return to hockey-related activities for four to six months. DEVILS RE-SIGN FREE AGENT GOALTENDER BLACKWOOD >> The New Jersey Devils have re- signed restricted free agent goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a threeyear, $8.4 million contract.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the deal for the Devils’ No. 1 goaltender. Blackwood posted a 22-14- 8 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and three shutouts. The recently turned 24-year- old had a .915 save percentage.

Baseball

RHP ANDRIESE AGREES TO ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH RED SOX >> Right-hander Matt Andriese agreed to a oneyear, $ 2.1 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, putting the reliever on his fourth different team in four years.

Andriese, 31, went 2- 4 with the Los Angeles Angels last season and had a 4.50 ERA in 32 innings over 16 appearances. The deal with the Red Sox has a club option for 2022. WHITE SOX TO SIGN TOP INTERNATIONAL PROSPECT >> Top international prospect Yoelqui Cespedes is expected to sign with the Chicago White Sox when the international signing period opens next month, MLB. com reported. He reportedly will receive a signing bonus in the $2 million range.

The White Sox have not confirmed the pending signing of Cespedes, the 23-year- old half-brother of former All- Star and freeagent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

DODGERS SIGNINGPKAHNLE TO TWO-YEAR DEAL >> The Los Angeles Dodgers are signing free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle to a twoyear deal, The Athletic reported. MLB Network said the contract is valued at $5.25 million.

The 31-year- old righthander spent the past three- plus seasons with the New York Yankees. He is coming off Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in August and is expected to miss most or all of the 2021 season.