Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov out indefinitely with knee injury

The Carolina Hurricanes dropped a bombshell Monday night announcing that forward Andrei Svechnikov will be out indefinitely due to a knee injury. Sportsnet reported that Svechnikov’s season could be over due to a torn ACL and that the team was going to exhaust second opinion options before making a final determination.

Svechnikov suffered the injury against the Vegas Golden Knights and missed Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, his first game missed this season, due to what the Canes described at the time as a lower-body injury. The 22-year-old sits third among Canes’ scoring leaders with 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points in 64 games this season, trailing Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas. Last season he had a breakout 30-goal campaign, trailing only Aho in the goals department. Svechnikov’s absence is a major blow to the Canes who are already without forward Max Pacioretty.

“Andrei had an MRI on Monday afternoon, and had a consultation with our team doctors,” said Hurricanes GM Don Waddell. “In the interest of being thorough, we are continuing to gather information along with Andrei to make the best decision for his health. We will provide further information after a decision is made.”

A second overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Russian-born winger is currently in year two of an eight-year, $62 million extension signed in 2021. The contract holds an average annual value of $7.75 million and runs through 2028-29. Throughout his five years with the Canes, he has appeared in 347 games totalling 112 goals, and 152 assists for 264 points. The Hurricanes sit first in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 43-14-8 and 94 points, tied with the New Jersey Devils – whose odds to win the division might have taken a leap with Svechnikov’s injury. The Hurricanes will faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday in Raleigh.