Despite not playing a single minute for the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural NHL season, one player picked by the team in last summer’s NHL Expansion Draft seems to be a fan favorite.
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It’s often easy to spot fans wearing Clayton Stoner’s No. 4 jersey before or after games at T-Mobile Arena, even though the Golden Knights placed the former Anaheim Duck on the injured reserve list in the preseason.
With the sale of recreational cannabis legalized in the state within the past year, the popularity of Stoner’s last name is surely tied to fans not only of the Golden Knights, but of the leafy greens as well.
When the news broke of Stoner’s injured status in October, fans expressed their support for the 33-year-old former Anaheim Duck, active or not.
“Damn,” exclaimed Twitter user Big Time C.H.O.P. “I’ll still buy a Stoner jersey though.” Fans also chimed in with jokes, from, “Is his number 420?” to “Did Stoner take a big hit?” playing off his pot-related last name and his unavailability.
So next time you spot a No. 4 Stoner jersey during the Stanley Cup Final—and you probably will—know that no, he didn’t take a big hit, but he still ranks high on select fans’ list of favorite Golden Knights.
