Steven Stamkos goes under the knife again

For at least the third time in his career, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has undergone surgery. According to The Athletic's Joe Smith, Stamkos underwent a surgical repair this past Wednesday, performed by Dr. Michael Brunt in St. Louis, to repair a left-sided lower abdominal core muscle injury. He is expected to be ready to play when next season starts.

Stamkos had already undergone surgery for this injury back in March but it was re-aggravated during phase 2 of the NHL's Return to Play plan for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Stamkos missed the entire post-season, except for playing just under three minutes in game three of the final against the Dallas Stars.

Stamkos broke his right leg in a 2013 game against the Bruins — a gruesome injury for which Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher — and missed 46 games over four months. He had surgery for a blood clot near his collarbone in April of 2016 near the end of the regular season and missed 21 ensuing games. He returned a month earlier than expected, in time for the Lightning to be eliminated from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference final against the Penguins with a Game 7 loss. In 2016-17, Stamkos missed 65 games after tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee. Stamkos himself has admitted that the impact of that injury has lingered.

Many felt Stamkos may end up being traded during the draft or free agent frenzy this week as the Lightning proved they were able to win a Cup without their captain. However, nothing has come to fruition just yet.

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