Golden Knight’s Mark Stone Back Better Than Ever

In the second game of the 2021-22 NHL season Vegas Golden Knight's captain Mark Stone was injured in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. He went on to have one of the toughest seasons of his career, only being able to play in 37 games, and missing 45 with back injuries. So, the title of this article has a double meaning. 

The isolation started to get to the captain as he went through extensive rehab in an attempt to get back on the ice. It damaged him both physically and mentally. 

"I wasn't here last year for a full six months I didn't really feel as much like I was part of the team. As much as you try and incorporate yourself into the group, it's tough when you are not on the ice every day… 37 games played in three 10-ish games segments wasn't fun at all," said Stone.

Fittingly, Stone was able to score a late-game-winning goal against the same Kings team in the first game of the 2022-23 season for the Golden Knights. It was poetry in motion.

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Now returning from an injury-ravaged season and an offseason back surgery, Stone is back and better than ever. The Golden Knights captain has 38 points in 42 games played and is second on the Golden Knights in scoring only behind linemate Chandler Stephenson.

"It's just good to be in the room with the guys winning games and having some consistency," said Stone.

"Obviously, he was playing hurt last year for the majority of the time. Now that he is healthy and has pushed through it with no setbacks, knock on wood, he's back where he wants to be and is playing great. That's what he has adapted that's why he's the type of player he is," said linemate Chandler Stephenon.

Stone has been able to play in every game for the Golden Knights this season, something not a single member of the team was able to do last year. With Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, Zach Whitecloud, and others going through injuries this year, Stone has been making it a goal to keep them involved with the team. 

After all, Stone knows more than anybody what it was like not to be incorporated with the team for several stretches of time.

"It's pretty hard when you're sitting outside the locker room; you don't really feel like you're part of it. So to just try and check in with guys every day in the gym before practice is nice. Just to get them in with the group and get them involved is good," said Stone.

Stone has not played a season in the NHL over 40 games and has not been nominated for the Frank J. Selke Award as the best two-way forward in the NHL. He has never won the award, being nominated twice, but perhaps this is the year Stone reaches that milestone.

As the Golden Knights turn the corner into the second half of the 2022-23 season, head coach Bruce Cassidy says that Stone's healthy and bounce-back season is one the main components of the VGK's success. 

"Stone was a big question mark coming off that surgery. He's played every game and really helped us win, and is the captain for a reason. The goaltending, we've watched Logan grow in front of our eyes. So there are a lot of positives. And like I said, I'm happy for the guys and looking forward to seeing what our team looks like when we do get healthy. I expect it to be a real dangerous group," said Cassidy.

Stone is 30-years old and has five years left on his $9.5 million contract which will expire after the 2025-26 season. He has captained the VGK for four seasons and has played in 217 games for the franchise. The furthest the Golden Knight's have made it in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Stone came in 2021 when they reached the Conference Finals and lost to the Montreal Canadiens.