The Las Vegas Golden Kngihts are under scrutiny for their use of LTIR again, as many expected that Mark Stone would be activated right after the season ended. While he has yet to be activated, reports have indicated that Stone will begin practicing this week for the Knights, sparking criticism on social media that the Knights abused LTIR again.
Notably, Frank Seravalli shared his thoughts on the matter, stating that the timing is just too good for this to happen more than one year in a row.
It is hard to take what the Golden Knights say at face value, since they have been doing this for the last 3 years with Mark Stone. While, as Seravalli noted, a lacerated spleen is a serious injury, it's hard to believe what the Knights say when Stone has returned for game 1 of the playoffs 3 years in a row.
This should be enough for the NHL to take a serous look at how teams are playing the LTIR and salary cap loophole for playoffs. The Knights were able to do it so successfully that they won a cup. If they don't get control of it, soon every team will be placing stars in LTIR for the back half of the season, which is terrible for the game.