Chris O'Meara/Associated Press
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos will undergo core muscle surgery on Monday and has been ruled out for the next six-to-eight weeks, the team announced Saturday.
Stamkos is part of a Lightning team that appears well-equipped for a deep playoff run and a potential Stanley Cup win thanks primarily to their stacked group of forwards.
Last season, the Canadian both benefited from and helped those around him, as he scored 45 points and added 53 assists for a career-high 98 points.
That came after Stamkos posted 27 goals and a career-high 59 assists for 86 points, as well as 16 points in 17 playoff games in 2017-18.