Long-term injury reserved has become a tool used by times to help manage their salary cap. Unfortunately, with the usefulness of this tool teams have begun to abuse it. The Toronto Maple Leafs have already faced criticism about LTIR usage this offseason, after announcing Matt Murray would not play next season.
Last season no one used LTIR more than the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights battled injuries from the moment the puck dropped until they lifted their first Stanley Cup. While injuries are part of the game, navigating the salary cap has become equally as important.
Now information has surfaced that one player from the Knights roster wasn't as injured as the team wanted people to think. On a recent appearance on Oilers Now, NHL insider Frank Seravalli dropped the following information:
Unlike Stone, Nolan Patrick didn't play a single game last season. However if this information from Seravalli is correct it's very possible that Patrick could be a prime candidate for a professional tryout this fall.
Patrick was once considered a can't miss prospect, unfortunately concussions have derailed his career to this point. Since being drafted in 2017 Patrick has played just 222 games scoring 32 goals and adding 45 assists.
