Death, taxes, and Mark Stone getting his trademark designation

It seems to be a familiar place for Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. He's grown accustomed to living here that fans have devolved into baseless conspiracies about his whereabouts. Of course, I'm talking about LTIR.

If you're not familiar, Stone suffered a wrist injury last week. Heading into Thursday, he's tied for first in assists (11) in the NHL and is tied for second in points (13). That's a major loss for the highest-scoring offense in the NHL (4.29 goals per game entering Thursday).

LTIR has been a familiar place for the Winnipeg native in recent years. He's been given the designation through various means, ranging from a bad back to a lacerated spleen. That has inspired many conspiracy theories and odd questions from other hockey fans.

But this time is... different. It isn't the same LTIR rules that fans (excluding Golden Knights fans) have known and dreaded. Instead, the rules have changed, with new implementations that limit what Kelly McCrimmon and company can do.

Why this version of the LTIR rules is different for Mark Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights

The NHL bumped up the new LTIR rules to this season. As part of the new CBA, the league has implemented new rules for next season, with LTIR originally being one of those rules. But what does the new LTIR rule mean?

"Teams placing a player on LTIR can still increase their salary cap pool by the injured player’s cap hit. However, for players expected to return during the same season or playoffs, LTIR relief is now limited to the previous season’s average league salary. The league’s average salary in 2024-25 was $3,817,293, meaning that LTIR relief for any player with a higher cap hit would be limited to $3,817,283 had the rules been in effect for the 2025-26 season. Under the previous rules, a team could receive LTIR relief by up to the injured player's cap hit, without a maximum. Players declared unfit for the remainder of both the regular season and playoffs are eligible for full LTIR relief but cannot return until the next season."

PuckPedia

That means Stone's full cap hit isn't going on LTIR. Instead, it'll amount to $3.82 million in cap space while having $2.5 million remaining. Stone will be eligible to return on November 15, meaning Vegas doesn't get the full relief. That's different from Alex Pietrangelo, who will miss the entire 2025-26 season.

In fact, the November return is much better than people anticipated. It gives Vegas another offensive piece sooner than expected, helping them fend off tough Western Conference competition. Plus, it'll boost other units, including the vaunted power play (NHL-best 32.1% entering Thursday).

As for the jokes...

It's about time we ended the LTIR jokes once and for all, dear hockey fans. Gary Bettman and company have heard the cries from the less fortunate fans and decided to take action. Therefore, it's time to retire the ol' "Mark Stone is faking his spleen being injured and he's not in a life or death situation" jokes.