Mark Stone to return to Vegas Golden Knights lineup for Game 1, “I’m going to play tonight”

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be activated off the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) Monday and will play in Game 1 vs. Dallas.

Just a few days ago, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon cleared Stone for full contact and would be a full participant in practice.

Stone last played on February 20 against the Nashville Predators and since then has been recovering from a lacerated spleen. With Stone on LTIR Vegas was able to put his $9.5 million cap hit to the side, along with Robin Lehner’s $5 million cap hit and Alexandre Carrier’s $2.5 million cap hit and loaded up by adding Anthony Mantha, Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline.

The 31-year-old has 16 goals and 53 points in 56 games with the Golden Knights this season.

The Golden Knights initially acquired Stone from the Ottawa Senators ahead of the 2019 trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Erik Brannstrom and a 2020 second-round pick. Vegas named the Winnipeg, Manitoba product their first-ever captain in 2021 and just two years later Stone led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023 while scoring 24 points in 22 playoff games.

Stone was oringally selected No. 178 overall in the 2010 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut in 2012 with Ottawa after an illustrious junior hockey tenure with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Through 640 career games over parts of 12 regular seasons with the Senators and Golden Knights, Stone has collected 212 goals and 567 points. He’s added 34 goals and 74 points in 95 career playoff contests.

Vegas finished the season with a 45-29-8 record and 98 points. The Golden Knights are slated to face off against the Dallas Stars on Monday, April 22 in round one of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.