Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 2:05 p.m.
The Golden Knights will have to go through the foreseeable future without their captain.
Mark Stone is out week to week with an upper-body injury that was sustained in Tuesday’s loss to the Nashville Predators, coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Thursday.
The injury occurred in the second period of Vegas’ 5-3 loss when he was hit by Nashville forward Yakov Trenin. The result of that hit wasn’t known at the time, but it was enough to keep Stone from playing in the third period.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said on “The Sick Podcast” on Wednesday that Stone was going to be “out for a while.”
“I don’t have an idea on his return date,” Cassidy said. “The medical team will update us as we go along. We’re going to miss him, obviously, but now we have to focus on the task at hand.”
The first concern went immediately toward Stone’s twice-surgically-repaired back, but the Golden Knights confirmed the injury is not related to that. Daily Faceoff is reporting Stone could be dealing with a lacerated spleen. Recovery time can vary anywhere between three and 12 weeks.
Eight weeks would take the Golden Knights into the playoffs, which would mean Stone could miss the final 26 games of the regular season. He missed the final 39 of last season after having his second back surgery in less than a year. Stone returned in time for the playoffs to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights will have to navigate without Stone and top center Jack Eichel in the lineup. Eichel has been out since mid-January with a lower-body injury that required surgery.
Cassidy said Eichel could travel with the team for the upcoming five-game eastern road trip, but it’s not certain.
In the meantime, until one or both return, Cassidy said it’s time for some of the role players to produce at a consistent rate. He mentioned players like forwards Michael Amadio and Paul Cotter, and defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Nic Hague, to seize that opportunity.
“We need more out of those guys. It’s not even so much more; I guess it’s consistency,” Cassidy said. “The next step in their career is to be that guy every night that shows up to play and gives you a good performance. It doesn’t mean one of those guys has to go score a point per game. It’s consistency, play to your ability every night.”
In addition to Stone’s absence, forward Brett Howden is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and won’t play tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Vegas 34, 7 p.m.).
The Golden Knights called up Brendan Brisson, Sheldon Rempal and Byron Froese from AHL Henderson in corresponding moves.
“It sucks losing any player in your lineup — especially your captain — what he brings to your team,” forward Keegan Kolesar said. “He’s the heart of our team. From that standpoint, first, everyone’s got to bring a little bit more emotion to themselves. The second part is, obviously, everyone’s getting an opportunity. You can’t take these moments for granted.”
Projected lineup vs. Maple Leafs
Ivan Barbashev — Nic Roy — Jonathan Marchessault
Paul Cotter — William Karlsson — Keegan Kolesar
Brendan Brisson — Chandler Stephenson — Michael Amadio
Mason Morelli — Byron Froese — Sheldon Rempal
Alec Martinez — Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Nic Hague — Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on X at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
