The past three seasons haven't been kind to Mark Stone. The Vegas Golden Knights captain has dealt with numerous injuries, leaving him to only play 136 games in that span. It's hurt the team in numerous ways, both from a statistical standpoint and one based on intangibles. Without Stone, the Golden Knights don't have a gritty two-way player who's also a good distributor.
That's especially true with his offensive production, scoring 37 assists last season. He's also proven himself a reliable goal-scorer in high-danger situations with 9.7 expected high-danger goals in 2023-24. That came from the 16 goals he scored, with these stats coming in 56 games. It shows that the Golden Knights offense moves like a rock without him.
But there's also that intangible side, where Stone has become a vocal leader of the team. There are notable names such as Jack Eichel who are a presence on the team. However, the Winnipeg native is the spark plug the team needs, putting Vegas on a full-blown momentum train. That's why he's one of the most crucial pieces on the Golden Knights. Players feed off his energy and build off of his in-game emotions.
Will this season be different for the Captain? Will he be around for most of or even the entire season? Stone has proven himself to be a quality Golden Knights center since he was acquired from Ottawa in 2019. But he could have a bigger season for Vegas in 2024-25, which would help them alleviate their forward issues. Here's what the upcoming campaign could hold for the beloved star.
What could dictate the stat line for Mark Stone this season (and how playing with Jack Eichel helps)
Obviously, one answer will be injuries, which have sidelined Mark Stone in the past three seasons. In the Stanley Cup-clinching season, Stone dealt with back issues and a lower-body injury that kept him out for 39 games. In 2023-24, a lacerated spleen kept him out until the Stanley Cup playoffs. Although his return wasn't enough to get the Vegas Golden Knights past the first round, scoring 37 assists in 56 games is enough to fuel an offense.
But it also depends on where he plays. Stone has served in a variety of roles in the past three seasons, including the top line and the power play. He can adapt with anyone and make his teammates better. If there's an influx of injuries impacting the team, his production will dip. But that could also boost his production if he isn't on the first line to start, but gets the call-up. He has experience with Jack Eichel in the past, which would benefit his stat line.
Keep in mind that the forward is 32 years old, which should impact his stats as well. Considering his injury history in recent years, a broken-down body can also see a statistical drop. Granted, there are outliers such as Jonathan Marchessault scoring 42 goals last season in his 30's. However, the Canadian forward isn't playing for a new contract like Marchessault was.