Golden Knights' Tuch expected to miss 6 months after shoulder surgery

Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch is expected to miss six months after undergoing shoulder surgery, the team announced Friday.

With the 2021-22 NHL season slated to start in October, Tuch is unlikely to play until January or February.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Tuch's shoulder bothered him throughout the season, but the team initially believed that surgery wouldn't be necessary, Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Tuch had 33 points in 55 games during the 2020-21 campaign before registering nine points in 19 playoff contests. He scored a career-best 1.17 goals per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The 25-year-old carries a $4.75-million cap hit. The Golden Knights will be cap compliant once placing him on long-term injured reserve, The Athletic's Jesse Granger notes. Vegas could then sign restricted free agents Nolan Patrick and Dylan Coghlan.