It seems that Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon is in a contract extension mood. After giving Braeden Bowman a six-year deal worth $3.4 million per year, McCrimmon also gave beloved Captain Mark Stone a two-year contract extension. The deal will be worth $9 million per year, giving him a well-deserved extension.
Mark Stone, signed to a 2x$9M by VGK, is a top two-way winger whose playmaking ability, stick-checking, hands, and hockey I.Q. have allowed him to remain one of the league's best 5v5 playdrivers. pic.twitter.com/2ANoeBNngB
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 12, 2026
Last season was a landmark year for the Canadian Olympian, as he scored 73 points in 60 games in 2026-27 (28 goals and 45 assists). He averaged 1.22 points per game, marking the highest total in his 14-year career while tying for 11th among NHL skaters.
Looking at the deal, it's easy to see his importance to the franchise. He's appeared in 400 games with the franchise, adding 396 points (136 goals and 260 assists) to the mix. Those points and his rating of +112 rank first among all Golden Knights since being acquired by Vegas.
Stone also leads the team in goals (37) and points (118) on the power play. Fans can't underestimate the importance of having their Captain on a crucial unit, as proven by his added points and goals. Without him, would you win the Stanley Cup in 2023? He's just as valuable as adding Alec Martinez or Alex Pietrangelo.
But there are more layers to the story than Stone getting paid for two more years and $9 million. How does the deal impact the overall salary cap structure for the Golden Knights? What could happen in the future for the Captain as the years pass by?
What Mark Stone's contract extension means for the Vegas Golden Knights
There's an interesting little theory that's been going around among some Golden Knights fans. They've brought up the possibility of Mark Stone being used as season-ending LTIR fodder for salary cap relief, helping McCrimmon bring in another big name or two. While that sounds nice, that isn't the intended purpose of the deal.
For one, his past production has warranted a contract extension. Yes, $9 million is a lot for an oft-injured 34-year-old right winger. However, he's shown that he can produce at a high clip, even when dealing with injuries left and right. His hockey IQ is off the charts and he adds more than mere offense.
TWO MORE YEARS OF THE CAP 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SomDIz6nY1
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 12, 2026
He's also skilled at forechecking and getting the occasional takeaway for Vegas. That hockey IQ, combined with his experience, makes him extremely valuable to the Golden Knights' overall apparatus. Just look at last season's record without the Winnipeg native.
Last season, the Golden Knights were 8-9-5 without Stone on the ice. They had a goal differential of -7 in that span, making him a crucial piece of the puzzle. To go even further, they have an overall record of 164-106-31 without the Captain, compared to a record of 237-118-45 with him.
It's easy to see why Stone got his extension with the Golden Knights on Saturday. The Canadian Olympian has been the key piece that Vegas has wanted during its Stanley Cup contention window. His play-driving ability and hockey IQ make a two-year extension worth it, especially since the Golden Knights suffer without him.
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