There's no denying that Mark Stone is one of the most talented Vegas Golden Knights out there. In his eight seasons with Vegas, he has 110 goals and 226 assists, bolstering the forward group to the next level. Of course, there have been some bumps in the road.
Obviously, you know about the endless LTIR jokes that have come with Stone's various injuries. Other fans would joke about the Captain emerging from a wheelchair with an empty cast, as he was in perfect condition for Game 1 of the first round. That also came with an endless wave of conspiracy theories associated with Stone, where he'd allegedly "fake a spleen injury" to help the Golden Knights.
That sounds about right for the conspiracy theorists. I wonder what they'll cook up next?
Anyways, Stone doesn't have a definitive return date... yet. However, it's never too early to plan for a leader's return. That's especially true when you're trying to fend off pesky teams like the Anaheim Ducks and the Seattle Kraken. So, let's see what will happen once the forward re-enters the Golden Knights fold.
What can Golden Knights fans expect when Mark Stone returns to the lineup?
First, you have your easy fixes. There's the power play that Stone will jump back on, adding more size to the unit. In his career, the Winnipeg native has 52 goals and 118 assists on the power play, making him one of the most potent players around.
But you can't discount Stone playing in the upper echelons of the lineup, either. That's especially true with Jack Eichel, who's enjoyed plenty of helpings with his fellow forward. Together on the Barbashev-Stone-Eichel line, the trio has generated an xGoals% of 60.7%, second-best on the Golden Knights, according to MoneyPuck (minimum of 30 minutes).
What's the explanation behind this? Well, it's rather simple. Eichel loosens up and doesn't force too many passes with Stone. Instead, he looks comfortable and sees the ice much better. Expect more of the same if the Winnpieg native returns to the fold.
What should happen with Braeden Bowman once Stone returns?
Bowman has been an exceptional player upon being called up. The rookie has four goals, with two coming on the power play. Since his call-up, the Golden Knights power play has six goals on 21 opportunities. So, what should be done with the rookie once Stone returns?
Honestly, there's no reason why you should pull a hot hand from the fold. Bowman has done an excellent job of taking over Stone's role on the power play. He positions himself well on the unit, setting up his teammates for excellent scoring opportunities (and even himself).
So why not bump the rookie down to the second unit? He can play Stone's role with players like Ivan Barbashev and Shea Theodore well, providing the same hockey intelligence that Stone does. As long as Bowman continues to play at a high level, there's no reason why you should remove him.
In fact, that could provide him with an opportunity to learn from the Captain. If they both play similar styles, having your leader back helps mold Bowman into a better player. You can call that a win-win situation.