Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators?

During the 2019 trade deadline, the Vegas Golden Knights picked up a vital piece for their Stanley Cup run. They acquired Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators with Tobias Lindberg for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick. The move was seen as a step forward for a franchise looking to finish the incredible story told a season prior, where they made the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.

Overall, the trade was a resounding success. The Captain scored 92 goals and 176 assists during his Golden Knights tenure (seven years), making him one of the franchise cornerstones. He's also won the Stanley Cup in 2023, finishing that incredible story and fulfilling a promise made by Bill Foley.

The trade has been hailed as one of the greatest moves in franchise history. It put a fantastic two-way forward into the mix, making the Golden Knights deadlier in many aspects. That includes the forecheck, power play, and the transition game, all of which have flourished during Stone's tenure.

But fans have gotten more out of Stone than one would realize. The trade also didn't help the Senators much, giving them role players who would move on to other pastures. What were the side effects of the massive trade that changed the landscape of the franchise forever?

How the Mark Stone trade benefited the Vegas Golden Knights

When the Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, they did it with some short-term pieces. That included David Perron (50 assists in 2017-18), who would play for different teams after the run. Therefore, they needed a long-term piece that plays both ends of the ice and scores goals.

Enter Mark Stone, a sizable center who added a scoring touch to the top lines. Before his Golden Knights tenure, the Captain was a cornerstone of the Ottawa Senators. He scored 123 goals and 188 assists during his seven seasons with the Senators, making him one of the most important pieces to the franchise's success.

He could also take away the puck, displaying a fantastic forechecking acumen on the ice. That's what the Golden Knights were getting when they acquired the Winnipeg native, for he had a 200-ft. game that few people could fathom.

Along the way, he earned an All-Star Game spot and a Stanley Cup, making him one of the most important players in franchise history. Leadership and emotion came alongside the play, giving the Golden Knights the spark plug they needed.

What about the Ottawa Senators?

As for the Ottawa Senators, the team didn't see much return from the trade. Erik Brannstrom is currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks, with a previous stop in Denver for Avalanche training camp. He's scored seven goals and 62 assists during his NHL career, where he's served as a stay-at-home defenseman.

Oscar Lindberg is currently with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League. His last NHL stint was with the Senators from 2018-19, when he scored five goals and three assists in 20 games. The 2020 second-round pick was used on Egor Sokolov, a Russian left winger currently with the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

Overall, the trade for Mark Stone is one of the most important moves in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights. They have a solid two-way forward who moves the puck well, adding more top-line power to the unit. He's showing his worth this season, standing eighth in the NHL in points (12). If the Golden Knights get a full season from the forward this year (and possibly the next), they could make the trade look weighted in their favor. That will leave Senators fans tossing and turning, especially before Friday's game.