Sadly, Mikhail Sergachev sustained an injury in his first game back…

Sadly, Mikhail Sergachev sustained an injury in his first game back…

Mikhail Sergachev, the lead defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, might be sidelined for some time. After recovering from a lower-body ailment that had kept him out of action since December 19th, Sergachev was carried off the ice in his first game back. The injury is a huge setback to a squad that needs all the support they can get as they fight for a postseason berth in the closing stages.

Sergachev had a respectable statline of 19 points (17 assists and two goals) in 34 games before to his first injury. In addition, he had played 22:33 on average per game, demonstrating how important a part he had on the team. In addition, he still has the second-most ice time among defenders on the powerplay despite only appearing in 34 games. He has played 51 minutes at five on four time, according to MoneyPuck, with Hedman leading the way with 158. Three additional defenders—Darren Raddysh, Erik Cernak, and Nicklaus Perbix—have also seen powerplay time. Cernak and Perbix, on the other hand, have only received one minute of the man advantage. According to more sophisticated statistics, Sergachev ranks second on the squad in predicted goals for defenders per sixty minutes (0.22), only behind Victor Hedman.
For the defender, not everything has been sunshine and rainbows, despite all the good things. In terms of anticipated goals %, he is ranked seventh out of ten defenders who have played at least five games this season and seen at least 40 minutes of ice time. With 3.4 anticipated goals against every 60 minutes, he also ranks third among defenders. Meanwhile, Sergachev ranks second on the team in defensive zone giveaways (17) in four of the documented games he has participated in this season (a total of nine Lightning games have been tracked) according to Last Word’s tracking project. Among defenders, he also has the greatest giveaway percentage (19.54%). And lastly, this season he also battled the rush. The worst on the squad, he let 50% of the rushes he faced go straight into the offensive zone with possession; Erik Cernak came in second with 39.34%.The Implications of Mikhail Sergachev’s Injury For The Team Without a doubt, Sergei plays a significant role for the squad right now. He contributes significantly to the offense, driving breakouts and creating plays in transition with no fear. In addition, his powerplay contributions demonstrate his exceptional ability to lead the starting team at quarterback when called upon. He is unquestionably Tampa Bay’s best defender, if not the best, despite his difficulties this season both on his own end and against the rush. Any team that loses a top-two defender finds it difficult to recover. However, Sergachev’s absence has enhanced the in-zone defense’s general organization. It feels like turnovers have been cleaned up. That’s not meant as a jab at Sergachev either; Perbix had the greatest defensive zone turnover rate at one point, but he has since significantly improved.

The fact that the rookies who have entered the lineup have looked excellent obviously helps. Not to be overlooked is the fact that some veterans are taking on more responsibility. One of those men that has shown initiative, especially during a transition, is Calvin de Haan. In the one game he played this season, Declan Carlile looked respectable as well. Jack Thompson also got action. But the two that have impressed the most are Emil Martinsen Lilleberg and Maxwell Crozier. Even after de Haan was replaced in the match, Lilleberg continued to be a roster lock with the return of Cernak and Sergachev. Although Lilleberg is most known for his tough play, he also adds value in transitions and occasionally displays some excellent offensive flare.

The Implications of Mikhail Sergachev’s Injury for the Remainder of the Year
Sergachev’s injury undoubtedly modifies the situation. Some thought Tampa’s defensive core was playing well lately. More comfort was provided by the depth that treasures like Lilleberg and Crozier brought. With Cernak and Sergachev back, the emphasis would probably move more toward offense if they performed well and appeared to have a better structure. But if Sergachev is injured, it might be more probable that the Lightning will pursue another defender. This implies that the rumors that had previously circulated about Sean Walker visiting the Sunshine State might start up again. With a little more fire this time.

Lilleberg will keep making an impression and drawing into the lineup in the interim. In the interim, Crozier might be called up and given additional NHL looks. It is anticipated that Raddysh will fill Sergachev’s vacant position to the greatest extent. In particular, he’ll probably be in charge of the second powerplay unit. All things considered, the Lightning might try to strengthen their blueline core in order to lessen the blow of Sergachev’s departure. But there’s little doubt that Sergachev’s brilliance will be missed.