Look, it's easy to say how important Mark Stone is to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup. He's your proverbial leader and is vital for leading the troops into battle. Just look at social media and see the reaction from the Golden Knights fanbase.
However, his leadership isn't the only thing that's vital for the Golden Knights this season.
Stats | With Mark Stone | Without Mark Stone |
|---|---|---|
Record | 4-0-2 | 6-5-5 |
GF/GM | 4.33 | 2.63 |
Power Play | 37.5% | 17% |
Of course, this was before Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. I was also eating some Buffalo Mac & Cheese at Mackenzie River Pizza (highly recommend, by the way) when these stats popped up. However, the difference is clear. Vegas desperately needs Mark Stone in the lineup. Otherwise, chaos ensues and fans will riot in the Las Vegas streets.
But in all seriousness, having a key forward return to the lineup is important in many ways. First, he had two goals and 11 assists before Wednesday (six games). That included 10 primary assists, a Corsi of 64%, and a Fenwick of 70%.
But that's not all. These stats show that a little expression goes a long way. It doesn't matter if you're down by a goal with three minutes left or have been in a prolonged slump. You want your Captain to show up and fire the gang up.
Mark Stone is just the beginning for returning the Vegas Golden Knights into an offensive force again
With the Golden Knights being 4-0-2 (before Wednesday's game against Ottawa, of course) with their Captain back, it brings hope for the Golden Knights to bring that offensive spark. You have an expressive leader and someone with the hockey smarts to make a difference. However, he's not the only key player that will make a colossal difference.
The Golden Knights are also missing William Karlsson (lower-body injury) from the festivities. They have an all-time record of 333-181-55 with the Original Misfit in the lineup. There are many reasons for this, starting with the obvious: the offensive output.
This season, Karlsson has four goals and three assists in 14 games. He's provided key depth scoring, giving the Golden Knights more punch. But he's also good in a two-way sense. He sees the entire ice and knows how the big stars play. When he's on, he'll drive players away from the middle of the ice and relegate them to getting terrible looks.
That's the type of player you'd want against teams like the Anaheim Ducks or the Colorado Avalanche. Such players can make a major difference in winning you games, whether it's the Misfit or the Captain. But hey, getting Stone back's a good start.