Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) takes a shot on goal by Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) during the third period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | 3:11 p.m.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is set to undergo back surgery Thursday, a team spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Stone, who met with consultants and specialists in Los Angeles, should be ready for training camp in September.
Stone missed 45 games this season due to this back ailment that had affected him dating back to last season's playoffs. He left in the second period of the second game of the season in Los Angeles and missed the following 12 games. After playing the next 16, he missed four of the next five.
Stone's attempts to play through the injury eventually led the Golden Knights to shut him down for 26 games and place him on long-term injured reserve.
"I think it's great news," McCrimmon said Monday. "I was hoping that would be what the solution might look like. Just from talking with Mark ... I sure think he's excited this outcome, also."
Despite rotating in and out of the lineup, Stone had 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) through 37 games. The two-time Selke Trophy finalist, however, did not look the part during the Golden Knights' last-chance effort to make the playoffs.
Stone had just two points in the final nine games.
Stone, who turned 30 years old last Friday, said he's spoken to players who have gone through similar situations, and he's confident he can put this issue behind him.
"Some are still playing at 37, 38 years old and were sitting on their couch at 30 years old thinking they were going to retire," Stone said at the end of the season. "I'm confident. Now it's just on me to find the right advice, the right plan and get it healed so it doesn't happen again."
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
