Is This the Beginning of the End for Mark Stone in Vegas?

Nick Kypreos raised an uncomfortable question on Sportsnet last week. 

With Mark Stone turning 34 in May and sitting on the final year of his contract, Kypreos said people around the league are already wondering whether Stone can play next season at all, and whether he might be headed toward the same situation as Alex Pietrangelo, who has been on season-ending long-term injured reserve since last summer with no timeline for a return. 

That comparison is going to alarm Vegas Golden Knights fans, and probably should, even if it's still speculation at this point.

The Pietrangelo Comparison

When Pietrangelo was placed on SELTIR, it freed up $8.8 million in cap space for Vegas, which GM Kelly McCrimmon used to maintain roster depth without making painful trades. 

Stone's cap hit is $9.5 million for the upcoming season. If his body forces a similar outcome, that number evaporates off the books and McCrimmon suddenly has substantial room to work with heading into free agency. 

Nick Kypreos said that Mark Stone's career could be heading toward an "Alex Pietrangelo situation" amid speculation about his health next year and whether or not he’ll be able to play.

A man whose career has been plagued by injuries, he is still truly one of, if not the… pic.twitter.com/HSlPsRpAGC

— Zeegs (@Zeeeegs) April 2, 2026

Whether you view that as planning or as genuine concern about a player's health depends on how cynical you are about how this organization operates, but McCrimmon has really showed he knows how to use the league's rules to his advantage. 

Stone's Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story

The frustrating thing about this situation is that when Stone plays, he's still really good. 

In 56 games this season, he has 67 points and is third among Golden Knights scorers, matching his point total from 66 games a year ago. 

He's been effective, and after a brief stretch of limited production following the Olympic break, he looked sharper down the stretch, recording three goals and two assists over his last six games, including a goal in Saturday's win over Edmonton. 

Here’s a real solid and honest interview with captain Mark Stone. Take a listen 👂🏼 🎥 @Sportsnet
pic.twitter.com/UXL6UN9Q8r

— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) April 5, 2026

The problem is the word "when." Stone has not played a full season in Vegas during his entire tenure with the franchise. 

His career high with the team is 66 games. He's dealt with back surgery, wrist problems, a broken finger, lower-body ailments and an upper-body injury earlier this month that put him on injured reserve briefly. 

What Comes Next for the Golden Knights

Vegas fired Bruce Cassidy and brought in John Tortorella late-season, so there's already uncertainty about what this team looks like going into next year. 

Stone's contract expires after 2026-27, and if his body doesn't allow him to play at full capacity, the franchise has a very tough decision to make about how to handle it. 

GM McCrimmon's instinct will be to protect competitive flexibility, which is what the Pietrangelo LTIR move was always about. 

Whether Stone himself would accept that kind of arrangement is another question entirely, as he captained this team to a Stanley Cup and by all accounts wants to keep playing. 

For now, both sides are likely in wait-and-see mode.

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images