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NHL Trade Grade: Mark Stone makes Vegas Golden Knights contenders

By Dave Stevenson

OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 08: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Mark Stone (61) keeps his eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators on December 8, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 08: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Mark Stone (61) keeps his eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators on December 8, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights came into the NHL trade deadline needing to add some magic to repeat last season’s Stanley Cup run. By trading for MarkStone, they’ve set themselves up for sustained success. 

Last season, the Vegas Golden Knights took the NHL by surprise despite not really having a star. They made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Washington Capitals. General Manager George McPhee knew his team needed a star and their pursuit of Erik Karlsson proved it. It took them a year longer than they would have liked, but in Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone, the Golden Knights now have their star.

Vegas pounced on the deadline’s top target, boosted by the Calgary Flames lack of interest in him and the Nashville Predators’ lack of desire to pay an extravagant price for him. They had to pay quite the price, giving up top defensive prospect Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick.

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But suddenly, the Golden Knights can match up well against just about everyone. They have found their difference maker. The best way to counter a lack of luck is a surplus of talent. Vegas now has the latter and can start trying to recapture that unforgettable magic from last season.

Let’s take a look at the biggest trade from the 2019 deadline.

Senators

There was no fathomable way the Senators were going to win this trade. Their hands were tied – either trade your future captain or risk losing him for nothing in a few months. After the Matt Duchene trade, expectations were understandably high.

While the Senators didn’t get a first-round pick for Stone, it’s worth noting Brannstrom is more valuable than what will likely be a low first-round pick. He’s a teenager who has yet to look out of place while playing against grown men.8 Bransstrom has been arguably one of the best AHL defensemen this season and he’s not even allowed to have a beer legally yet. Sens fans should be excited about him.

The Senators now have two defensemen they can build around. Thomas Chabot and Brannstrom give Ottawa two top-notch lefthanded defensemen. That’s the kind of duo teams would give anything to have. Factor in 2018 first-round pick Jacob Bernard-Docker. Maybe Christian Wolanin and Dylan DeMelo wind up being keepers. Suddenly, the Senators have something they can hang their hat on.

All of that said, Ottawa really should have gotten a first-round pick for Stone. Even if you factor in Brannstrom’s value. Especially since Vegas was able to give Stone a massive extension.

Grade: B-. Brannstrom saves this trade from being worse. And, as I said earlier, there’s no way they were winning this trade. You don’t win a trade when you trade someone like Stone.

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Golden Knights

Alright, enough negativity. Let’s look at how Stone makes the Golden Knights Stanley Cup contenders. As I said earlier, Vegas didn’t really have a star other than maybe Marc-Andre Fleury. Stone is a bonafide star who can be a gamechanger every time he touches the ice.

Not only does he put up points, if wings ever got Selke Trophy love, he’d be a serious contender. Stone should join the Golden Knights’ top forward line. Last season, their top line was incredible. This year, it’s merely been pretty good. Getting Stone at right wing with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault flanking him should make it incredible again. Suddenly, you have a top line that can score with the best of them and shut down just about anyone.

Rielly Smith is a very nice complementary forward, so he should slide right in on the second line. He’s not going to wow you, but his all-around game and scoring potential make him a threat on a second line that will be facing lesser competition than the first one.

Now, the extension is a bit complicated. It’s not official yet – it can’t be until March 1. But it’s reportedly for eight years and $9.5 million a year. For a player of Stone’s caliber, that’s highway robbery. He’s worth far more than $9.5 million a year.

However, there’s this horrible thing called the salary cap and it’s going to affect the Golden Knights. Remember, they have to give Karlsson an extension as well. This is why bridge deals are risky. They can really bite you in the butt. Even after factoring in the rise in the salary cap ceiling, Vegas is going to have very little breathing room.

Trading Smith could help, as he has a $5 million cap hit. Defenseman Colin Miller is another possibility, as he makes $3.875 million. Ditto with Brayden McNab and his $2.5 million cap hit. I wouldn’t even rule out Max Pacioretty, though his modified no-trade clause certainly won’t make it easy.

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But when you get a guy like Stone, you do what it takes to keep him around. It’s worth every penny you spend and every second of pain you feel for losing some of your favorite players. You can’t win in the NHL without a star. Every single team in the salary cap era who has won a Stanley Cup had at least one star. Most of them had more than one. Stone is a star. Ergo, anything you have to do to bring him in and keep him around is more than worth it.

Grade: A+. Brannstrom is a heck of a guy to have to give up, but Stone is worth it. Especially with the extension.

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