Mark Stone

Lore & Background

Stone began his major junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2008–09, recording 39 points over 56 games. After a concussion and thumb injury limited him to 28 points in 39 games the following season, he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL entry draft, scouted as a power forward with weak skating. In his third WHL campaign, Stone emerged with 106 points over 71 games, earning a spot on the WHL East First All-Star Team. He was named captain of the Wheat Kings for the 2011–12 season and concluded his junior career as the WHL's second-leading scorer with 123 points, winning the Brad Hornung Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player.

Professional

Stone made his NHL debut on April 21, 2012, in game five of a first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, recording an assist on the winning goal. He scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2014, against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.

During the 2014–15 season, Stone played on the all-rookie 'Kid Line' alongside Mike Hoffman and Curtis Lazar, finishing tied for the rookie scoring lead with 64 points and leading the NHL in takeaways (98). He suffered a fractured wrist from a slash by P. K. Subban in the 2015 playoffs but appeared in all six games of the series. Stone signed a three-year contract extension with the Senators in 2015, with general manager Bryan Murray calling him 'one of the team's better players, if not one of the best.' He led the NHL in takeaways for three consecutive seasons from 2014–15 through 2016–17.

Unable to come to terms on a new contract, Stone filed for arbitration and was awarded a one-year extension. At the 2019 trade deadline, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights along with Tobias Lindberg in exchange for Erik Brännström, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick.

He signed an eight-year contract extension on March 8, 2019. Stone finished the 2018–19 season as the league leader in takeaways (122) and was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He was named the first captain in Golden Knights history in 2021 and led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2022–23, scoring a hat-trick in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

Reader's Guide

Mark Stone's career is defined by his emergence as a premier two-way forward despite being a sixth-round draft pick. His rookie season tied for the NHL lead in scoring, and he consistently led the league in takeaways, underscoring his defensive impact. Stone's tenure with the Ottawa Senators included multiple playoff appearances and individual recognition as a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist. His trade to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2019 deadline marked a turning point, as he immediately signed a long-term contract and became the franchise's first captain.

Under his leadership, the Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup in 2022–23, with Stone scoring a hat-trick in the clinching game. His legacy includes being a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy and being recognized as one of the NHL's best defensive forwards. The circumstances of his departure from Ottawa—where owner Eugene Melnyk reportedly vetoed a potential eight-year contract extension—remain a notable aspect of his career trajectory.