Before he was sidelined with a lower-body injury, Mark Stone had six goals and 15 assists in 13 games. He was rolling on the top line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, helping the Vegas Golden Knights win their first eight home games. Then he was injured on November 6, keeping him out of the action.
I know, I know, the LTIR jokes were aplenty. The only thing was he wasn't on LTIR. He was considered day-to-day with the injury. As a result, names like Pavel Dorofeyev and Nicolas Roy have played alongside Eichel and Barbashev.
The good news is the Golden Knights have thrived without their Captain. They're 8-4-2 without the recent addition to the 4 Nations Face-Off. It's a testament to the depth and adaptability the team has, with a plethora of forwards taking on the "next man up" mentality.
But now, the team has their leader coming back. It couldn't have come at a better time, for the Golden Knights will have a brutal five-game stretch, starting with the Dallas Stars on Friday. They'll also face the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks.
So where should Stone play once he returns for a tough five-game stretch? Should he return to the top line and play on Eichel's right wing? There are plenty of reasons why the Captain should get back to his rightful spot on the unit, especially since he's one of the better forwards on the Golden Knights.
Why Mark Stone should return to the top line
When Mark Stone was still on the top unit with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, they created magic together. How much? According to Natural Stat Trick, the unit has scored 15 goals while allowing eight (65.22%). That's with 157:22 of TOI in 13 games played. The trio was expected to average 6.55 goals for and 6.96 goals against.
Of course, they've done well without Stone, with the same GF% (65.22) without the Captain. However, the other options haven't been as viable. What has the top unit looked like with Nicolas Roy? They have a GF% of 33.33% together. With Dorofeyev, that percentage jumps up to 55.56%.
There were other options such as Cal Burke. However, Burke isn't a long-term option for the Vegas Golden Knights. Therefore, the other options were Dorofeyev and Roy. While both will have their time soon, Stone remains the best option. He's a veteran leader who understands the team well, knowing what philosophies and strategies work with the line.
That's especially true in the postseason, where the Golden Knights will need their best unit on the ice. The 32-year-old has 32 career goals and 32 career assists in the Stanley Cup playoffs with Vegas, making him one of the most vital figures. That came into play in 2023 when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup.
When a team gets its leader back into the lineup, it becomes much better. Everyone straightens out their biggest insecurities and weaknesses, getting their minds right for the tough stretches. Stone's return couldn't have come at a better time with the Golden Knights preparing to face five Stanley Cup contenders. That starts with their Captain rejoining the top unit for the long haul.