Report: Stone out for season, questionable for playoffs

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with an upper-body injury and is questionable to return for the playoffs, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.

Stone suffered the ailment during the Knights' 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 20. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported that the veteran forward is dealing with a lacerated spleen.

The 31-year-old missed the last half of the 2022-23 campaign with a back injury, but he was ready for Game 1 of the postseason. He recorded 11 goals and 24 points in 22 games to help the Golden Knights lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

With Stone and his $9.5-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, Vegas was able to add forwards Ivan Barbashev and Teddy Blueger, as well as goaltender Jonathan Quick, at last year's trade deadline. Barbashev proved to be the most impactful acquisition of the three, slotting right into the Knights' top line. He tallied 18 points and 64 hits in the playoffs.

The Golden Knights are now in a similar situation this season and are reportedly targeting a top-six forward like the New Jersey Devils' Tyler Toffoli, the St. Louis Blues' Pavel Buchnevich, and potentially Jordan Eberle of the Seattle Kraken if he's made available, per Dreger.

Stone racked up 16 goals and 53 points in 56 games before suffering the injury. Vegas entered Thursday's action in second place in the Pacific Division with a 33-19-7 record.

The Knights went 23-9-7 without Stone in the lineup last season.