Stamkos will miss at least the start of Tampa Bay's attempt to repeat as a Stanley Cup finalist (the playoffs begin April 13). He leads the Lightning with 36 goals and 64 points, and has 312 goals and 562 points in his eight NHL seasons.
Yzerman said he does not expect the surgery will have any long-term effects on Stamkos' playing career. Yzerman said he could not confirm if the recovery time is closer to one month or three months, and said a more exact timetable will be available in a couple of weeks.
Stamkos is in the final year of a five-year, $37.5 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Yzerman said he remains determined to work out a deal that will keep Stamkos with Tampa Bay.
"Our hope, No. 1, is that he comes back to play this year," Yzerman said. "And we want him to remain with the Lightning and we're hoping at the right time we can make that happen."
Yzerman said he was not ready to make a roster move, but said recalling forward Jonathan Drouin is "something we will consider." Drouin, the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, has been playing for Syracuse of the American Hockey League since his return from a Lightning suspension on March 7. He has nine goals in 10 games, and was scratched from one game for missing a meeting.
"[Drouin] has worked extremely (hard), played very well, you see the stat sheet and the goals and all that," Yzerman said. "But overall, his attitude, his work ethic … we're very pleased with him right now. His effort has been outstanding."