Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov to have season-ending knee surgery

Elliotte Friedman joins Jeff Marek to discuss the injury to Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov and why it can provide a unique opportunity for new addition Jesse Puljujarvi.

Carolina Hurricanes superstar Andrei Svechnikov will have season-ending knee surgery this week, dealing a big blow to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Svechnikov, 22, injured his right knee during the second period of Saturday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He did return to play the third period but on Monday the Hurricanes said there was concern he had torn his ACL. Further tests on Tuesday confirmed the diagnosis.

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The surgery will be performed on Thursday by Dr. Marty Isbell of Raleigh Orthopaedic.

“After further consultation with global experts in this field, it has been determined that the best course of action for Andrei’s future is to have this surgery, and to have it done by our team orthopedist, Dr. Marty Isbell,” general manager Don Waddell said in a statement on Tuesday. “We’re confident that Andrei will make a full recovery.”

Losing Svechnikov for the season is a major blow to a Carolina offence already without Max Pacioretty.

Svechnikov, who represented the Hurricanes at the All-Star Game this season, is third in team scoring, with 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) in 64 games this season.

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