Quote:
Originally Posted by Knightslayer
Yeah you just have to hope your top player suffers a significant injury. Genius by tampa.
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It's not like Kucherov's injury was sudden though. He opted not have surgery in the off season, as most players would for that kind of thing. But then he and the team opted for surgery just before the season began after it was clear that Tampa couldn't get under the cap without losing some key players.
The timing to opt for the surgery is kind of suspicious considering the cap issues they were having as well. Of course, they didn't do anything wrong technically. A player and team can choose the surgery any time they feel it's required. They knew they were a good enough team to hang in there while Kucherov was out and took advantage of it.
I am actually OK with that tactic. The only thing that bothers me is that it was reported that he was participating in full contact practices and scrimmages a while before the playoffs began, and from reporters at the practices, appeared to be 100%. When Tampa was called out on that, he disappeared from the practices until the playoffs without a word. I feel they probably kept him on the LTIR longer than needed so they wouldn't have to make roster changes. That is the sneaky part. If a player is healthy, they shouldn't stay in LTIR. I don't know how the NHL can prove or enforce that though. Or if they really even care.