Could this be the final season for Golden Knights captain Mark Stone? What’s the latest Canadiens speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently reported that “a lot of people” are speculating about the health of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.
The veteran winger turns 34 in May and has a lengthy history of injuries. He has one year remaining on his contract.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone (NHL Images).
Kypreos wondered if Stone could be facing a situation similar to teammate Alex Pietrangelo, “where the body breaks down and prolonged time off is necessary.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stone is the third-highest-paid player on the Golden Knights, carrying an average annual value of $9.5 million. He’s among the best two-way forwards in the game, but he’s dealt with back/lumbar issues that required surgery, as well as a wrist injury and various lower-body injuries that have sidelined him for long periods.
Despite being limited to 55 games this season, Stone is third among the Golden Knights’ scorers with 67 points. Based on that performance, he could play out the final season of his contract, but we can’t dismiss the possibility that he might need more time to recuperate from this season’s wear-and-tear.
Pietrangelo has been on long-term injury reserve this season, and it’s expected he’ll remain there for next season. His absence provided the Golden Knights with $8.8 million in cap relief.
If Stone ends up on LTIR, it would free up another significant chunk of cap space that the Golden Knights could put toward bolstering their roster for next season.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: In a recent mailbag segment, Stu Cowan was again asked about the future of Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
The 25-year-old Xhekaj has seen a reduction in his playing time over the past two seasons. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, and could end up as the odd man out on the Canadiens blueline, especially with promising youngsters David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom waiting in the wings.
Cowan believes there will be interest in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Xhekaj’s mix of size, mobility, and toughness in the trade market. He could fetch a bigger return than Jayden Struble.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowan admitted that the Canadiens would miss Xhekaj’s physical style of play, but he doesn’t think there’s room for him on what’s becoming a crowded blueline. He could fetch a decent draft pick or prospect, or end up packaged in a larger deal this summer.
Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault could also draw some interest in this summer’s trade market. He has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $3.15 million. Cowan noted that the number of teams having goaltending issues this season shouldn’t make it difficult for the Canadiens to find a trade partner for him this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault hasn’t been the same since tearing two groin muscles in last year’s playoffs. He’s lost his role as the Canadiens starter and now sits behind young netminders Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler on their goalie depth chart.
Nevertheless, the goaltending issues around the league that Cowan mentioned could make Montembeault a trade target. His contract is reasonable, he lacks no-trade protection, and he might rebound with a different team in need of goaltending depth.