Golden Knights Facing First Real Test With Mark Stone Injured

Through six games, the Vegas Golden Knights (4-0-2) sit atop the Pacific Division. Five of those six games have been against Pacific Division opponents, and, despite a rocky start, they took eight out of a possible ten points. Now, the Golden Knights prepare to face their first real test of the season: Mark Stone is week-to-week.

“He’ll be week-to-week, so he won’t travel this week,” said Bruce Cassidy after the team’s morning skate on Monday. “We’ll see where he’s at after that.”

Stone, 33, is second in the league in scoring with 13 points, just two behind the league leader in Jack Eichel. Stone is tiedwith Eichel for the league lead in power play points with eight apiece. He’s a big part of why they have the second best power play in the league with a 37.5% success rate. 

“It’s an unfortunate loss,” said Cassidy on Monday. “It’ll be a loss in every area. I mean, he touches the penalty kill, and obviously down low on the power play.”

Between Stone’s on-ice play and off-ice leadership, the Golden Knights might struggle to fill that void. But they have a plan.

Who fills in on the top line?

At 5-on-5, it appears that Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy sees Brandon Saad as Stone’s temporary replacement.

Cassidy has been extremely complimentary of Saad’s game in the past, praising how he can move up and down the lineup as needed. Already, Saad has played with Tomáš Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, with William Karlsson and Reilly Smith, and with Colton Sissons and Keegan Kolesar. Through it all, he’s stayed remarkably consistent.

“[Brandon Saad] is a little more direct,” said Cassidy after Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames. “Saader’s moved around a lot in our lineup since he’s been here, and he just plays his game. I don’t think it’s going to affect him.”

At morning skate on Monday, Saad replaced Stone on the top line alongside Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel. And when he met with the media afterwards, Cassidy confirmed that that line would start the game together.

“Saad’s going there today. It puts Barbie on the right; Barbie’s played right before. I don’t think he’s played much with Jack on the right, maybe a little bit here or there… Saader’s had some good games, just no production to show for it. He’s played with good players before, I don’t think the moment will intimidate him at all. We’ll see whether it’s a good fit or not, but I think he’ll do well up there.”

Saad joined the Golden Knights midway through last season. He recorded six goals and 14 points in 29 games. He has yet to score or record a point this season.

Cassidy mentioned Brett Howden as an option on the top line if Saad doesn’t pan out. He also didn’t rule out trying Mitch Marner on Eichel’s wing again, although he admitted he’d prefer to keep him with Tomáš Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev.

Who replaces Stone on the top power play unit?

No one on this Golden Knights roster can truly fill Stone’s shoes on the power play. He parks himself at the goal line as the primary set-up man. All seven of his power play assists are primaries. Dorofeyev or Hertl, it doesn’t matter who scored– Stone gave them the puck.

“We’re going to try Marner in that spot​​ and go back to a more conventional look with [Shea Theodore] up top,” said Cassidy after Monday’s morning skate. “[Marner] can make plays all over the ice… Mitch has been on the power play, he saw what plays were available to Mark so he knows what we’re trying to do and what the other team’s trying to do.”

Although Marner hasn’t played a goal line role on the power play before, Cassidy has the utmost faith in him.

“[Marner] is just a smart guy,” Cassidy said. “He hasn’t been here that long, but he’s a hockey player to me. You could probably play him on left defense and he’d figure it out. He’s just one of those guys who understands the game and what everyone’s responsibility is on the ice.”

Cassidy acknowledged the differences between what Stone and Marner will bring to the role. Marner probably won’t be the netfront scoring threat that Stone was, but he’s an elite playmaker.

“Does [Marner] have Stoney’s length there? No, he might get pushed a little further away on those drop-off plays. But he’s going to make the plays that are there, and he’s going to add different elements.

“It makes it easier for Jack, too, passing from a right stick to a right stick,” Cassidy finished. “He’s had Theo up top. We’re trying to minimize changing everything… The in-zone stuff, you should see a lot of the same plays if we’re executing properly.”