Vegas Golden Knights Exploring Various Trade Options After Receiving Bad News

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Hunter Bowman
March 1, 2024 (1:09 PM)

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The Vegas Golden Knights quest for back-to-back Stanley Cup championships has hit a snag with the news of captain Mark Stone's injury. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Stone is facing an uphill battle as he's expected to sit out the remainder of the regular season due to an upper-body injury, with his playoff return uncertain.

The 31-year-old forward sustained the injury during the Knights' 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on February 20th. Reports from Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli indicate that Stone is grappling with a lacerated spleen, a serious setback for the team.

This isn't the first time Vegas has faced adversity with Stone. Last season, his $9.5M cap hit led to him being placed on long-term injured reserve, causing him to miss a significant portion of games. However, he made a remarkable comeback for Game 1 of the first round, contributing significantly to the Knights' playoff run with 11 goals and 24 points in just 22 games.

Despite their challenges, the Golden Knights have shown resilience in the past. Last year's trade deadline saw them acquire forwards Ivan Barbashev and Teddy Blueger, along with goaltender Jonathan Quick. While Barbashev remains on the roster and proved to be a valuable addition, the others have moved on.

Dreger's latest report indicates that Vegas is actively seeking to bolster their forward lineup, with players like Pavel Buchnevich from the St. Louis Blues, Tyler Toffoli from the New Jersey Devils, and Jordan Eberle from the Seattle Kraken being mentioned as potential targets.

Prior to his injury, Stone had an impressive season, tallying 16 goals and 53 points in 56 games. With Stone on long-term injured reserve, the Golden Knights currently have $6.8M in cap space, providing them with some flexibility as they navigate this challenging situation.

Source: Bladeofsteel