Vegas Golden Knights activate Jack Eichel off LTIR, place Mark Stone on LTIR

The Vegas Golden Knights have activated forward Jack Eichel off of long-term injured reserve today and have placed forward Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve due to the lacerated spleen he suffered against the Nashville Predators back in February.

Eichel last played on January 11 and was out with a suspected knee injury that required surgery. Eichel has racked up 19 goals and 44 points in 42 games this campaign and ranks third among Golden Knights skaters.

Eichel is in the sixth year of an eight-year deal that has an average annual value of $10 million a season. Per CapFriendly, Eichel has a no-movement clause, a deal he signed prior to the start of the 2017-18 NHL season while with the Buffalo Sabres.

The timing of Eichel’s return is good for Vegas, especially with Stone being placed on LTIR and Tobias Bjornfot currently on injured reserve for an undisclosed injury, while Brett Howden, William Carrier and Pavel Dorofeyev are all out, as well.

Stone was initially said to be out for some time with an upper-body injury, but as the Golden Knights got clarification of the severity of the injury, they placed him on IR. The captain has notched 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points in 56 games this campaign and was on pace for 77 points, which would have had him pass the 70-point threshold for a second time in his career.

Stone is currently in year five of an eight-year deal he signed with Vegas that has an average annual value of $9,500,000. These two corresponding moves now give the Golden Knights $6.851 million in deadline cap space available heading into the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

Vegas will play the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight where Eichel will make his return to the lineup per head coach Bruce Cassidy.