Injuries combined:
Martinez and Whitecloud at IR
Originally published on Vegas Hockey Now | By Chris Gawlik | Last updated on 9/10/23
The Vegas Golden Knights placed Zach Whitecloud on IR on Sunday. This does not surprise anyone. Alec Martinez’s appearance on IR was a surprise. The Golden Knights played all week after Martinez’s injury.
Difference between IR and LTIR
Once placed on IR, a player may not play for at least seven calendar days. A team can replace a player on IR and the player’s salary still counts against the team’s salary cap. When placed on LTIR, a player is barred from playing for 24 calendar days and 10 games in the NHL. A team can replace a player on LTIR and that player’s salary does not count against the team’s salary cap.
Golden Knights roster and salary cap situation
The Golden Knights have a spot on the NHL roster, including the one currently held by Grigori Denisenko. The Golden Knights have six defensemen on the NHL roster; Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, Nicolas Hague, Ben Hutton and Brayden Pachal. The Golden Knights will need to clear some salary cap space if they want to sign a seventh defenseman, as there is only $76,000 available.
Are injuries more of a concern than last year?
Injuries are a concern every year. The defending Stanley Cup champions have a target on their backs. Teams have not been shy about going after veterans, and brawls between whistlers have been a regular occurrence during the preseason.
William Karlsson appeared in only one pre-season game and missed significant practice time. Martinez is out for at least a week, I’m guessing maybe longer. Theoretically, Whitecloud could return next week, but when the Golden Knights call a player “week to week,” it usually takes a month or more.
Back to the question. Yes, injuries will be a bigger concern than last year. We’re talking about a team that had a short summer and one that isn’t much younger.
Martinez played 77 games last season. This number will almost certainly decrease. Pietrangelo played in 73 games last season and is playing plenty of minutes night after night. The 33-year-old is expected to have some degree of regression. William Carrier, Logan Thompson, Adin Hill, Jack Eichel, Whitecloud and Mark Stone missed most of last season.
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