Champs place Cup hero Martinez on IR with apparent concussion

A day after acquiring defenseman Andrej Sekera from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday placed defenseman and Stanley Cup hero Alec Martinez on injured reserve to make room for their addition.

Martinez has been out since Feb. 7, when he suffered an apparent concussion against the Tampa Bay Lightning. According to The Associated Press, there is no timetable for Martinez’s return.

The 27-year-old Martinez has only 28 goals in 248 career regular-season games, but earned a spot in Kings lore last season when he ended both the Western Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final with series-ending goals in overtime, the latter against the New York Rangers to give Los Angeles its second Stanley Cup in three seasons.

Martinez has five goals and 12 assists with a plus-11 rating in 45 games this season.

Sekera, 28, acquired Wednesday in exchange for a first-round pick and prospect Roland McKeown, was at Staples Center for Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Ottawa, but did not suit up. He is expected to play Friday against the Anaheim Ducks.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report