Golden Knights captain Mark Stone has been cleared to return to practice ahead of today’s morning skate, the team announced. He’s been out since sustaining a lacerated spleen on Feb. 20, missing nearly two months and the following 22 games.
Vegas moved Stone to standard injured reserve shortly after exiting the lineup and later to LTIR on March 4, a few days before the trade deadline. The increase in cap relief from Stone’s $9.5MM cap hit allowed GM Kelly McCrimmon to go all out, picking up two of the best players on the market in defenseman Noah Hanifin and center Tomáš Hertl, albeit both with significant salary retention from their former clubs.
This year marks the third straight campaign Stone has missed significant time – in fact, his 56 games before sustaining the spleen laceration this year were his most in a season since 2019-20. Back problems were the culprit for his absences over the past two years, including a surgery that sidelined him for the final 39 games of the 2022-23 regular season. He returned in time for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, looking refreshed as he tallied 11 goals in 24 points in 22 games en route to the franchise’s first championship.
Those back problems haven’t cost him any time this season, a promising sign as he still has three years remaining on his contract with a full no-move clause. The two-time Selke Trophy finalist has maintained his reputation as one of the best two-way wingers in the league, posting 16 goals and 53 points in 56 games this year while averaging 19:24 per game. His possession metrics took an uncharacteristic dip, though, failing to dominate shot attempts with a career-low 48.4 CF% at even strength. His 51.7 xGF% and +2.4 expected rating were also his worst since being traded to Vegas in 2019.
The Golden Knights haven’t confirmed Stone’s status for a potential Game 1 of a first-round series next weekend – they need to clinch a spot first, something they can do tonight if they exit their game against the Wild with more points than the Blues do against the Hurricanes. Still, a return to practice a week out paints positive signs for his ability to return at some point before the end of the month.
If he plays, he’ll do so in a new-look VGK top nine, bolstered by the additions of Hertl and Anthony Mantha further down the lineup. He’ll occupy his normal top-six right-wing role, either with Hertl or Jack Eichel at center.
Stone being cleared for game action prior to the final game of the regular season on April 18 would create unimaginable headaches for Vegas. There’s no realistic way for them to be cap-compliant with Stone activated from LTIR, as they’d need to remove more than $8.7MM worth of cap hits from their active roster to reinstate him. Keeping him on LTIR if he’s truly able to return before Game 1 would likely spur a league investigation and could result in penalties for cap circumvention, which could include cap penalties for next season, forfeiture of draft picks at the league’s discretion, and even the forfeiture of any games affected by their circumvention, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Wow. Such surprising news. ( said no one )
Shocker. And to anyone who called us crazy for thinking this wasn’t the plan the entire time, open your eyes.
Some of us just call you crazy for constantly whining about roster maneuvers that are legitimate and available to every team. It’s almost like you don’t get it.
Just because something is technically within the rules doesn’t make it any less greasy. Most teams don’t do this whereas Vegas does it every year.
It was more about people saying “yeah good one. He ruptured his spleen to manipulate the cap” acting like I was a dumb dumb for thinking he wouldn’t be back just in time for playoffs. But yeah I don’t get it apparently. You know everything. I hope I’m as smart as you one day.
Playing by the rules is now considered greasy? Where do you come up with this stuff? Other teams don’t do this? Really?
We get it, you’re a Vegas apologist.
The other wrinkle to this that doesn’t get talked about enough: If you can build a team talented and deep enough to still make the playoffs even with your best players barely playing all year, then go for it. I dislike Vegas as much as the next guy but teams that prioritize winning and are willing to utilize any LEGAL loophole to do so should be commended, not scolded. We should want all of our teams to leave no stone unturned in their quest to contend.
All that being said, the rent will come due eventually and all the haters can enjoy the lean years at that point. Myself included.
If I was every single owner and GM (not Tampa) I would be furious at this kind of BS. I’d request independent doctor reviews
I would agree that it’s not a good look and even likely circumventing the cap but all teams have access to this very same practice if needed.
Most of, if not all, of the league’s GMs and owners voted for this. Does it bypass the cap? Of course, it does. Do they all care? Not the ones who voted for it. Apparently, there have been rumblings about tweaking the rule in various ways to reduce the bad optics. We’ll believe it when we see it.
On the humorous side, when first passing the link for “Filip Chytil Medically Cleared, Skating With Rangers”, I thought I saw “Magically Cleared”. But, sadly, the writers missed a golden opportunity.
My only issue is small and medium market teams can’t have it both ways. The cap was implemented to help small and mid market teams with rising payroll. They also get revenue sharing from the bigger markets. If you are going to circumvent the cap and overspend then teams like the Rangers, Flyers, Leafs, Bruins, Habs, etc should be able to flex their financial strength or at the very least shouldn’t be sending one penny to teams like Vegas and Tampa who do this.
It’s a quite simple fix: extend the cap for the playoffs & make it a daily cap that you can move players on & off that day’s playoff roster. (I think I heard a coach or gm with that suggestion- not my own) Teams can still use LTIR & go over cap during regular season to replace star players but come playoffs teams need to make tough decisions. Does vegas put stone back in at the expense of hanifan & mantha, for example? Agree with @Mac the optics are bad & league shouldn’t wait until new cba to fix.
It’s deja vu all over again.
It’s almost like Vegas cares more about winning another cup for their fans than they do about the feelings of whiners online.
Hahaha. That’s a good one.
But still, it’s bullshit. I know every team has the option to do this and I know that technically doesn’t break any rules, but that doesn’t make it any better. To be clear, I’m not blaming the VGK for doing it, I’m blaming the league for allowing it. This is bad for the game, no matter how you want to look at it.
But it’s not because everyone plays by the exact same rules.
There is a reason for the rule, and just because you don’t have any skin in the game, you just want it your way.
Im all in for them doing it and think it should be changed. Im annoyed with the people who called me and many others conspiracy theorists and uncompassionate when we called this would happen months ago
You should definitely tell all teams when their players are healthy enough to return based on all of your medical education
@ripper. So you think these players just happen to be healthy enough right when playoffs start?
I think there is no reason to rush them back to play meaningless games when they are coming back from serious injuries.
@orioles.
What’s more likely: you have an intimate knowledge of Mark Stone’s lacerated spleen condition
or
you’re arrogant, delusional, and petty because you cruise Twitter and forums believing you know what’s best for everyone and everything?
Lol @ripper… you certainly seem like a well-adjusted scholar. Lmao. Get a grip, no one is shocked this happened. I’d wager not even you. Nor are Vegas some kinds of cap geniuses. I’d prefer to see the game played with a cap in playoffs cause I think it would be more fun. Please point out the flaws in my logic and other weaknesses in my character.
You have something called ‘I’m the main character syndrome’. “I’d wager…”, “I’d prefer…”, “I think it would…”.
You see Stone having a lacerated spleen as some sort of advantage for Vegas.
Reminder that the fix for this is so very obvious…and very easy.
Have a per game salary cap (set at the same level as the season’s cap) for EACH playoff GAME.
Let Vegas have a $200 million roster, but they can only dress $83.5 million for any given game.
I pointed this out at the deadline when there were all sorts of comments about Vegas and absolutely zero about Toronto who did an identical thing with LTIR – no one has even the beginnings of an issue with the LTIR rule. Otherwise, those complaints would be on all the posts about this (including the one directly below this one).
People have an issue with Vegas. Just say that. We know it already. There’s no mystery here. “I hate Vegas and don’t like that there’s a successful hockey franchise in that city for a variety of reasons.” At least then you’re being honest.
This is great for the NHL! They need as much publicity as they can get if they ever plan to beat women’s college basketball in popularity.
Isn’t anyone concerned that he’s being rushed back too soon? Remember Robin Lehner… they made him play injured… and he hasn’t played since.
It sounds almost as if his recovery is being scheduled around the playoff calendar.
This problem is easily solved. Someone should just take his knees out Game 1.