The Lightning said Steven Stamkos should be good to go whenever the 2020-21 season starts. Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Lightning believe Steven Stamkos will be ready for 2020-21 season

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Steven Stamkos missed 24 of 25 playoff games during the team's Stanley Cup title run, but general manager Julien BriseBois told reporters on Wednesday that the 30-year-old center should be good to go whenever the 2020-21 season starts. 

Per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Stamkos suffered a compensatory injury while rehabilitating from the sports hernia surgery he underwent on March 2.

"As it happens sometimes with injuries, and particularly with this injury, sometimes your body compensates," BriseBois explained. "It eventually triggered what we believe is a compensation injury that has developed into — or turned out to be — related to this injury."

"We fully expect him to be ready for next season," BriseBois added. 

Stamkos played in only 2 minutes and 47 seconds of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars and scored on his lone shot of the postseason. He left the game because of what was described as a lower-body injury and didn't play again. 

Despite his absences, Stamkos was the first Tampa Bay player to receive the Stanley Cup following the team's Game 6 win. 

The NHL announced last week that clubs can open in-market training facilities on Oct. 15 for voluntary workouts. There's no set date for the start of the new campaign, but it's believed games might not begin until January. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa lead at PGA Championship
Mystik Dan comes up short at Preakness, denied shot at Triple Crown
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness
Panthers star named winner of 2024 Selke Trophy
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back
20-year MLB veteran working out, unsure about playing future
USA Hockey names HC for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics
Key Knicks forward ruled out for Game 7 vs. Pacers