Vegas use of injured reserve prompts questions about salary cap. Other NHL teams do same thing
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Boos began raining down on Golden Knights captain Mark Stone at American Airlines Center in Dallas the moment he first touched the puck. They didn’t let up whenever the first-round series was in Dallas.
Stars fans weren’t happy that the poster boy of all that is questionable with how long-term injured reserve operates was back on the ice just in time for the playoffs.
Again.
No team is more scrutinized than Vegas for how it uses LTIR. To critics and skeptical fans, it looks very much like manipulation of the salary cap — even though the NHL has steadfastly maintained it is fine with it all.
Stone has gone on LTIR each of the past three seasons, which allows the Golden Knights to exceed the cap by roughly the amount of his salary until the playoffs begin. The Knights have taken advantage by acquiring players such as Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin. It was Hanifin’s goal Friday night that forced a Game 7 against Dallas.