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Golden Knights Analysis

Golden Knights Still Have Unanswered Questions Regarding Stone

The Vegas Golden Knights recently got one answer to a major question that was halting their season, captain Mark Stone's injury.

We now know

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The Vegas Golden Knights recently got one answer to a major question that was halting their season, captain Mark Stone's injury.

We now know the unfortunate truth regarding Stone's injury. It was his back again. For the second time in nine months, Stone had back surgery.

As the Golden Knights resume after All-Star Break, they need to rebound from their 1-5-2 record without Stone. They are slipping in the Pacific Division standings and have seen their lead over the Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, and Edmonton Oilers almost entirely disappear.

But just because we know Stone is out indefinitely with another back injury, it doesn't mean we have all the answers to questions surrounding the VGK. Here are some of the biggest unanswered questions regarding Stone, the Golden Knights, and the fate of their season.

1) How Long Will Stone Be Out?

A question no one can answer right now, the timetable for Stone's injury is only confirmed to be a lengthy one. Head coach Bruce Cassidy is not a medical professional, so when asked about a timetable for Stone at the All-Star Game, he could only reply by stating that Stone won't be back "anytime soon."

Given that we are over 60% through the season and now in the post-Christmas and post-All-Star push for the playoffs, Stone's status seems paramount. Can he return in the regular season, which ends in about eight weeks? What about the playoffs?

The third option is the worst-case scenario: Stone is out for the rest of the season, or maybe his career is over.

2) When Will He Be Placed On LTIR?

It's not a matter if the Golden Knights will place Stone on long-term injured reserve, but when. It only makes sense for the pushing-for-the-playoffs Golden Knights to free up much of Stone's $9.5 million cap hit ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. 

If Stone is out for the rest of the regular season, expect GM Kelly McCrimmon's phone to be hot. 

3) Who Will the VGK Trade For & Can They Help Replace Stone?

Another thing that is all but guaranteed is a Golden Knights trade as they look for a player who can replace Stone.

Depth guys like Noel Acciari, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jesse Puljujarvi appear to be good candidates for the VGK. But it is also possible that with Stone out and tons of cap space to work with, McCrimmon could go after a big name like Timo Meier, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Patrick Kane.

Whoever the Golden Knights acquire, they will have immediate pressure on them to fill the void that Stone left.

4) Who Steps Up?

Speaking of stepping up without Stone, the Golden Knights will need their remaining star players to produce even more. Throughout the last stretch, Jack Eichel has just one point in eight games. All-Star Chandler Stephenson has no goals in 10 games, and Reilly Smith, the team's leading goal scorer, has no goals in the last 12 games.

5) Does This Team Make The Playoffs?

The biggest question of them all is if the team is on the same track as last season. They were similarly a Pacific Division leader around the All-Star Break last season but eventually fell off and missed the playoffs, with injuries a big factor.

With arguably their most important player out of the lineup indefinitely, can the Golden Knights hold on and make the Stanley Cup Playoffs?