Tampa Bay Lightning place defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on long-term injured reserve

Looks like one of the top blueliners is going to be out for a little bit longer, giving his team some cap space.

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they are going to be placing defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

Sergachev was originally injured back on Dec. 19, when he took slapshot from the St. Louis Blues’ Colton Parayko to his foot. After struggling to get off the ice, he was ruled out for the rest of the game.

The Russian-born defenseman was listed as day-to-day a couple of days later, a status that has remained until this week.

Now being on LTIR, Sergachev is unable to return until the Lightning’s game on Jan. 13, when they take on the Anaheim Ducks.

In the meantime, with his $8.5 million cap hit off the books, that allows Tampa to add some more bodies to the main roster.

The team has recalled defensemen Sean Day and Declan Carlile from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Day has been called up multiple times this season, but has not seen any game action. Day played in two games with the Lightning in December 2021, his only NHL appearances so far.

Carlile, who has nine points in 31 games with the Crunch this season, has never dressed with the Lightning since signing a two-year contract prior to the 2022-23 season. In 110 AHL games, the former Merrimack College star has amassed 36 points.

Both players will join the team in advance of their Thursday night clash with the Minnesota Wild. Tampa (18-16-5), who has lost three of their last four games, sits fourth in the Atlantic Division, four points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for third. They are just one point out of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.