3. Stone Magic
It seems absurd to say it but Mark Stone doesn’t get nearly enough credit or praise for the type of player he is.
The wing is an elite two-way forward who without doubt sits in the upper-echelons of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.
However, Stone often gets lost in the noise that surrounds the more younger or high-profile names in the league.
But, as was showcased on Saturday, there is no other player quite like Mark Stone and we should feel privileged that he’s a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The forward made one highlight-reel play in particular that really epitomizes what he’s all about in terms of elite vision and creativity.
With the game tied at 0-0 in the second period, Stone received the puck from Max Pacioretty and, with his back to goal and a Nashville defenseman breathing down his neck, Stone carved out some space for himself before dishing an inch-perfect pass to Chandler Stephenson who proceeded to beat Pekka Rinne on the breakaway.
It was a sublime play that best sums up Stone’s high hockey IQ, and it was the forward’s 30th assist and 48th point of the year, tied for first on the team with Max Pacioretty.
With 37 blocked shots, 45 hits and a staggering 68 takeaways, Stone is on pace for another stellar year and plays like the one he executed on Saturday highlights his importance to the Vegas Golden Knights.