On Monday, the Vegas Golden Knights, the lowest-seeded Western Conference playoff team, wrestled home-ice advantage away from the conference-leading Stars with a 4-3 Game 1 win. What’s more, the team’s big-money superstars led the charge. Against a Dallas squad that has been defined by their depth and balance all season, the Golden Knights were driven by their best players. Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl and Jonathan Marchessault all scored for Vegas (as did Brayden McNabb, who netted the game-winner), while Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin contributed two assists apiece.
The win gave Golden Knights fans plenty to be excited about, following an up-and-down regular season performance and plenty of questions heading into the playoffs. It also provided critics with fresh ammo regarding their cap circumvention tactics that, while technically legal, for some, don’t operate within the spirit of the salary cap.
Salary Cap Shenanigans
For the second season in a row, Stone’s return to the lineup after an extended absence due to injury coincided with Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs. This time, the Golden Knights captain opened the scoring on his first shift, putting Vegas on the board just 1:23 into their Stanley Cup title defense.
Stone’s recovery from a serious lacerated spine injury suffered on Feb. 20 is triumphant, but it’s a story that can’t be told without acknowledging its convenience to Vegas’ cap management plan. By moving Stone to long-term injury reserve (once again), the organization had the cap flexibility to make a major trade deadline splash, bringing in Hertl (who was also originally sidelined), Hanifin and Anthony Mantha.
With Stone’s $9.5 million contract on the sidelines, the Golden Knights were free to use that space. While nothing can be proven regarding the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of the 31-year-old’s injury timetable, it’s curious that he somehow managed to return to the lineup in time for the postseason when cap restrictions are lifted. The roster that Vegas iced on Monday night carried a total cap hit of roughly $90 million, well over the $83.5 million cap.
New Golden Knights Stepping Up
Complain all you want that Vegas’ massive deadline haul came on the backs of sneaky cap manipulation. Any NHL team can use these loopholes to build what seems to be a capped-out roster, but the Golden Knights are actually doing it – and doing it well. Furthermore, they might be nailing some of the acquisitions that were made to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…