Svechnikov of Hurricanes to have season-ending knee surgery

MANALAPAN, Fla. --Andrei Svechnikov will be out for the remainder of the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Carolina Hurricanes because of a knee injury.

Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said the forward would have reconstructive surgery on his right ACL Thursday.
"Injuries in our game are unfortunately a big part of it," Waddell said from the NHL General Managers meetings. "Probably post trade deadline, a week later or whatever it is, makes it a little harder. We can't go back now. We've got to look forward. Hockey is a team game. It's not an individual sport, so we've got to keep moving forward."
Svechnikov has 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) in 64 games this season. He is third in goals and assists and tied for second in points among Hurricanes players.

The 22-year-old was injured in the second period of a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. It was a non-contact play with nobody around him. Waddell said he's not sure if Svechnikov hit a rut in the ice at PNC Arena and didn't want to speculate.
"It was an innocent play," Waddell said.
He returned to play the third period against the Golden Knights but did not dress in a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The Hurricanes announced Monday that Svechnikov would be out indefinitely.
"I hate it for him more than anything because he's worked so hard to get to this point of the year when it's fun," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said Tuesday. "He's not going to be able to be part of it going forward. It's tough."
Waddell said he has spoken to Svechnikov.
"Very disappointed, obviously," Waddell said. "[He was] saying 'Sorry, Don.' I said, 'Andrei, don't be. I feel bad for you.' We know what he puts in. He came this year for camp and he was our best conditioned athlete. He's had a heck of a season and he's an important part of our hockey club. So I feel bad for him."
The Hurricanes (43-14-8) are tied with the Devils for first in the Metropolitan Division entering their home game against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW). They have been shut out in two straight games and have scored one goal in its past three games.
Carolina previously lost forward Max Pacioretty for the season with a torn Achilles. He was limited to five games after being acquired in the offseason.
"I just feel bad for the kid," Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. "He's been grinding all year for us and getting ready for our big playoff push. To be getting that news, it's unfortunate. As a group, we have to move on obviously and find ways to fill that hole he's created."
A first-round pick by the Hurricanes (No. 2) in the 2018 NHL Draft, Svechnikov has 264 points (112 goals, 152 assists) in 347 regular-season games and 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 40 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report