The Vegas Golden Knights are getting one of their best players for the playoffs.
The team has confirmed that Mark Stone will return to the Vegas roster for Game 1 against Winnipeg on Tuesday after being out since January due to back surgery.
Stone was injured Jan. 12 in a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Stone has missed more than 40 games in 2021-22 with another back injury that required surgery in May. Stone had 17 goals and 38 points in 43 games while averaging 19:45 of ice time on the Vegas first line.
During his five seasons with the Golden Knights, Stone had 73 goals and 203 points in 217 games. In March 2019, Stone signed a monstrous eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $9,500,000.
The injury left the Golden Knights with a big hole up front, but the club still managed to finish second in the Pacific Division. The team have also been without Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore and Zach Whitecloud in recent weeks, with Eichel and Theodore recently returning. Stone skated on Chandler Stephenson and Mike Amadio on the team’s third line during practice with the club on Monday.
Drafted in the sixth round by Ottawa in 2010, Stone has amassed 50 points in 73 career playoff games. He had eight points in the 2021 playoffs and had a career-high 17 in 2019-20 as the Golden Knights failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Golden Knights open the series at home on Tuesday, with Game 2 taking place Thursday night. The series will move to Winnipeg on Saturday and Monday, while Vegas will host Game 5 on Thursday if needed.
