Mark Stone is staying with the Vegas Golden Knights, giving head coach Ryan Craig certainty around his captain beyond this season.
Vegas signed Stone to a two-year contract extension carrying a $9 million average annual value, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season.
The move removes a major question before training camp. Stone was entering the final season of his current deal, which carries a $9.5 million cap hit.
At 34, Stone remains one of the most productive forwards on the roster. He finished last season with 28 goals and 73 points across 60 regular-season games.
That production matched his career high in points, while his 1.22 points per game marked the best rate of his NHL career.
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Stone has also become deeply tied to the identity of the franchise. He was named the first captain in Golden Knights history on January 13, 2021.
Vegas keeps its captain in place
Since arriving from the Ottawa Senators in 2019, Stone has played 400 regular-season games for Vegas and produced 396 points.
His value has stretched well beyond the top six. Stone has consistently been used in important situations, including the power play and late-game defensive assignments.
The postseason résumé carries even more weight. Stone owns the Golden Knights franchise records with 43 playoff goals and 84 playoff points during his time in Vegas.
His signature moment came during the 2023 Stanley Cup run, when he recorded 24 points in 22 playoff games and helped Vegas capture its first championship.
The extension also gives Craig an established locker-room leader as he begins his first season behind the Golden Knights bench. Stone's role and presence won't be another issue the new coach has to sort out.
For general manager Kelly McCrimmon, the decision keeps one of the franchise's defining players in Vegas rather than allowing another contract storyline to hang over the season.
Stone will now have the chance to spend at least three more seasons wearing the captain's “C” in Vegas, with his future settled before puck drop on the 2026-27 campaign.
Was extending Mark Stone at $9 million per season the right move for Vegas?
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