Vegas Golden Knights: Making the case to make Mark Stone a captain
If the Vegas Golden Knights want a team captain, they should look no further than star forward Mark Stone, who’s ready to take over.
The Vegas Golden Knights haven’t had a team captain yet in their three-season tenure in the NHL. They are one of the five teams in the league without one. However, the Golden Knights should consider naming a captain soon and they have the perfect candidate in Mark Stone.
In a recent interview, Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer talked about the importance of having a captain. The Knights hired DeBoer back in January after letting go of head coach Gerard Gallant.
Making The Case For Stone
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If the Knights want a captain, they should look no further than Stone. They acquired Stone at the 2019 NHL trade deadline. Since joining the Golden Knights, he has emerged as the team’s best player and top leader on the team. After acquiring him, they signed him to an eight-year deal.
Stone has produced at a very impressive rate during the regular season with his new team. He has 26 goals and 74 points in 83 games, which is a shade over a full 82 game season. That’s not including the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, during which Stone had 12 points in seven games. If you include the postseason, Stone has 86 points in his first 90 games in Vegas. Not too shabby.
He also has quite a bit of experience in leader ship roles. Stone served as an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators from 2017-18 through 2018-19. He was also an alternate captain with the Brandon Wheat Kings during his junior career from 2010-11 through 2011-12.
When you name a captain, ideally, you want someone who’s going to be around for a while. That’s certainly the case with Stone. As I mentioned earlier, Stone signed an eight-year deal days after being traded to the Golden Knights. He’ll be under contract through the 2026-27 season. Also, Stone has a full no-movement clause and he’s the team’s highest paid player (and deservedly so).
This isn’t to say the Golden Knights don’t have other candidates. William Karlsson would be a strong captain as well. He’s been on the team since their inaugural season and has been a key player for them in each of their first three seasons. Like Stone, Karlsson is signed through the 2026-27 season, so he’ll be around for a long time.
Furthermore, Max Pacioretty is the only player on the team with any experience as an NHL captain, as he was the Montreal Canadiens team captain from 2015 until he was traded to the Golden Knights in 2018. Being a captain is a tough job and Pacioretty has done it before.
Even Jonathan Marchessault could be a captain candidate. He’s not a traditional pick, but he’s had to work his tail off to get to where he is right now. Marchessault is a hard worker and a fan favorite, which could make him an appealing option for team captain.
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However, Stone is clearly the right choice. He exemplifies what it means to be a Golden Knight. Stone is one of the top players in the NHL and is a two-way force to be reckoned with. He plays hard every night and has been a consistent leader by example. It’s time to make the Golden Knights Stone’s team by making him the captain.