Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty had successful wrist surgery Thursday and will be out of the lineup indefinitely, the team announced Thursday. The 33-year-old veteran missed 17 games in October and November with a fractured foot.
In 16 games, he's scored 12 goals and nine assists for Vegas, which is first in the Pacific Division and has a one-point Western Conference lead over the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks.
Assistant coach Steve Spott, who has filled in while head coach Pete DeBoer is in health and safety protocols, said earlier in the day that Mark Stone (lower body) and Robin Lehner (lower-body injury) are day to day. Forward Brett Howden remains in protocols, but Alex Pietrangelo and Evgenii Dadonov skated on Thursday and are out of protocols.
The Golden Knights next play Friday at home against the Ducks.
(Photo: Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
How does it impact the team?
Jesse Granger, Golden Knights beat writer: It’s obviously a big loss for the Golden Knights, who will now be without their best pure scorer for the foreseeable future. Despite playing in only 16 of Vegas’ 33 games, Pacioretty is second on the team with 12 goals. His wrist shot is the most potent weapon on a suddenly-dangerous power play, but his scoring touch will be missed in all situations.
The bright side is this surgery needed to happen, so having it now to have a healthy Pacioretty in time for the end of the season is better than waiting and having an injury-hampered star scorer.
Who will step up in Pacioretty's absence?
Granger: The most likely fill-in for Pacioretty on the top line is Evgenii Dadonov. The 32-year-old winger who Vegas traded for in the offseason was skating in Pacioretty’s place during practice on Thursday, and has filled in on the top two lines several times this season.
Dadonov is obviously not the caliber of scorer Pacioretty is, but he’s fifth on the team with eight goals this year, and has scored at least 25 goals in all but one of his four seasons in the NHL.