Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone has been cleared to practice while he continues to recover from a lacerated spleen, the team said Friday.

Stone, who has 16 goals and 53 points in 56 games, hasn't played since Feb. 20 when he was initially ruled out with what was then designated as an upper-body injury. He's expected to participate in morning skate while wearing a noncontact sweater.

There was no timetable given by the defending Stanley Cup champions for when Stone could return to the lineup.

Noah Hanifin and the Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $7.35 million annually, the team announced Thursday.

Re-signing Hanifin, who was set to become a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, to a long-term deal comes a little more than a month after the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights acquired the 27-year-old defenseman in a three-team trade with the Calgary Flames and the Philadelphia Flyers just days before the NHL trade deadline.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson and New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 31.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the NHL with 3-5—8 in three games to propel the Oilers (45-23-4, 94 points) to a perfect week and four-point cushion for second place in the Pacific Division.