The Vegas Golden Knights have never been a team to shy away from a blockbuster deal, so the news of Mark Stone’s “week-to-week” injury is setting off alarm bells around the league. Stone’s absence is a blow to Vegas’s lineup, but it also paves the way for General Manager Kelly McCrimmon to once again work his salary cap magic ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
TSN’s Darren Dreger dropped the bombshell on Insider Trading, stating that the Golden Knights are unquestionably in the market for a scoring forward. The ability to place Stone on LTIR (Long Term Injured Reserve) frees up his entire $9.5 million cap hit, giving Vegas the flexibility to pursue some serious firepower.
Vegas Golden Knights management is facing renewed scrutiny from NHL fans and some executives over their potential salary cap circumvention tactics.
Golden Knights Eye Guentzel, Tarasenko as Trade Targets
One name immediately surfacing in the NHL rumors mill is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel. Guentzel is a proven top-six scorer with the tenacity the Golden Knights love. The Penguins are in a precarious cap situation of their own, so a deal that relieves them of Guentzel’s contract might be appealing.
Another potential target is Ottawa Senators forward Vladimir Tarasenko. His high cap hit and potential unrestricted free agent status post-season could leave him available for yet another trade if the Senators have no plan on re-signing him. Tarasenko would bring elite scoring to Vegas’ ranks.
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Vegas should not be allowed to do this. It happens every year with them. Some how Mark Stone will be totally fine for game 1 on the playoffs.