Mark Stone

Early Life and Junior Career

Mark Stone was born on May 13, 1992, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to parents Rob and Jackie Stone. He attended Westwood Collegiate high school in his hometown. His older brother, Michael Stone, also pursued a professional hockey career as a defenceman, primarily with the Calgary Flames. Stone's hockey journey began with the Winnipeg Thrashers of the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League, where he won the tournament top scorer award at the 2008 Telus Cup. He then moved to major junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 2008-09 season. In his rookie WHL campaign, Stone recorded 39 points in 56 games, tying for 12th in rookie scoring. His draft-eligible 2009-10 season was hampered by injuries, including a concussion and a thumb injury, limiting him to 28 points in 39 games. He participated in the 2010 Memorial Cup as a host team member, where he competed against his brother Michael, whose Calgary Hitmen team was defeated by Brandon in the semi-final. The Ottawa Senators selected Stone in the sixth round, 178th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He returned to Brandon for two more dominant seasons, being named team captain for the 2011-12 campaign. That final junior year, Stone amassed 123 points, finished as the WHL's second-leading scorer, and was awarded the Brad Hornung Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player. He was also named to the WHL East First All-Star Team for the 2010-11 season.

NHL Career with Ottawa Senators

Mark Stone made an immediate impact with the Ottawa Senators, debuting in the NHL during the 2012 playoffs and recording an assist on a Jason Spezza goal. His regular season debut came nearly a year later on March 6, 2013, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Stone scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2014, against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. He split the 2013-14 season between Ottawa and their AHL affiliate in Binghamton, recording four goals and eight points in 19 NHL games. The 2014-15 season marked Stone's emergence as a star. He made the opening night roster and thrived on a line with Mike Hoffman and Curtis Lazar, eventually securing a permanent NHL spot. Stone tied Johnny Gaudreau for the rookie scoring lead with 64 points and led the NHL with 98 takeaways. His season was marred by a fractured wrist from a slash by P.K. Subban in April, but he played through the injury in the playoffs. Stone was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, finishing second to Aaron Ekblad. On June 25, 2015, he signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.5 million annually. Stone continued to excel as a two-way force in Ottawa, leading the NHL in takeaways for three consecutive seasons from 2014-15 to 2016-17. He recorded 61 points in 75 games in 2015-16 and 54 points in 71 games in 2016-17. Despite a productive 62-point season in just 58 games in 2017-18, contract negotiations stalled. Stone filed for salary arbitration and was awarded a one-year deal, setting him up for unrestricted free agency in 2019. Senators general manager Pierre Dorion later revealed in 2023 that an eight-year contract extension for Stone was prepared, but owner Eugene Melnyk vetoed the deal, leading to his eventual trade.

Trade to Vegas and Captaincy

At the 2019 NHL trade deadline, the Ottawa Senators traded Mark Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights along with Tobias Lindberg in exchange for Erik Brännström, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round draft pick. Just days later, on March 8, 2019, Stone signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension with Vegas. He finished that season as the league leader in takeaways with 122 and was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. Stone made an immediate playoff impact, recording his first career hat-trick in game three of the first round against the San Jose Sharks. He was named an alternate captain upon his arrival. Following the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, which saw Vegas reach the Western Conference Final, Stone was named the first captain in Vegas Golden Knights history ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. General manager Kelly McCrimmon stated the team felt Stone was the obvious choice and the time was right. The Knights finished second in the league that regular season but were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals, a series where Stone was held pointless. Persistent back problems then became a major issue, limiting Stone to 37 games in the 2021-22 season and contributing to Vegas missing the playoffs for the first time. He underwent a lumbar discectomy in May 2022.

Stanley Cup Championship and Contract Extension

Mark Stone returned from back surgery for the 2022-23 season but re-injured his back on February 12, 2023, against the Florida Panthers, requiring a second surgery within nine months. Placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) for the remainder of the regular season, his absence created salary cap flexibility that Vegas used to bolster its roster. Stone's reactivation for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the salary cap is not in effect, was a point of controversy. He proved indispensable in the postseason, leading the Golden Knights on a deep run. In the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, Stone scored a hat-trick in the Cup-clinching Game 5, becoming only the third player in NHL history to achieve that feat and the first since Babe Dye of the Toronto St. Patricks in 1922. He finished fourth in voting for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. On September 12, 2026, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights, avoiding free agency and securing his place with the team through the 2028-29 season.

International Play

Mark Stone has represented Canada in multiple international tournaments, achieving significant success. His first major international appearance was at the 2012 World Junior Championship in Alberta. Stone began the tournament with a four-point game, including a hat-trick, against Finland and was consequently named Canada's player of the game. Canada ultimately won the bronze medal, with Stone leading the team with seven goals and ten points, and he was named one of Canada's three best players as selected by the coaches. Stone was selected for the senior men's team at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where Canada won the gold medal. He returned to the World Championship in 2019 in Slovakia, where he was named an alternate captain alongside Sean Couturier. Stone co-led the tournament in scoring with 14 points in 10 games, helped Canada reach the final, and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player by the media, though Canada settled for the silver medal after losing to Finland. His international career will continue at the highest level, as he was named to Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina on December 31, 2025.

Playing Style and Career Trajectory

Mark Stone is universally regarded as one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards, combining high-level offensive skill with elite defensive awareness. His defining characteristic is an uncanny ability to read passing lanes and strip opponents of the puck, a skill reflected in his multiple seasons leading the NHL in takeaways. Stone's defensive prowess earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2019. Offensively, he is a consistent point producer and a clutch performer, as demonstrated by his hat-trick in the 2023 Stanley Cup clinching game. Despite being drafted in the sixth round due to concerns about his skating, Stone overcame this perceived weakness through superior hockey intelligence, positioning, and relentless effort. His leadership was formally recognized when he was named the first captain in Vegas Golden Knights history. Stone's career path from a late-round draft pick to a Stanley Cup champion and Olympic team member illustrates his work ethic and hockey sense. His consistent performance after the All-Star break in multiple seasons, including leading the NHL in scoring after the break in 2015, further highlights his ability to perform at a high level when it matters most.

Personal Life and Family

Mark Stone maintains strong family connections within the hockey world. He is the younger brother of former NHL defenceman Michael Stone. The two have competed against each other at multiple levels, including the WHL, the 2010 Memorial Cup, and the NHL, first facing off in the NHL on January 31, 2015, when Mark's Senators defeated Michael's Arizona Coyotes 7-2. Stone is also the brother-in-law of NHL defenceman Cody Ceci, as Stone and Ceci are married to sisters Hayley and Jamie, respectively. The couples met during their time with the Ottawa Senators. Mark and Hayley Stone have one child, a daughter. Beyond his immediate family, Stone's roots remain in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he was born and raised. During his junior career, he was nominated for the H. L. (Krug) Crawford Memorial Award in December 2011, which recognizes sporting excellence in southwestern Manitoba.

Career Statistics and Highlights

Throughout his NHL career, Mark Stone has compiled impressive statistics that show his value as a complete player. His rookie season in 2014-15 saw him record 64 points, tying for the league lead among rookies. His playoff performance, particularly in the 2023 championship run, cemented his reputation as a big-game player. Stone's career is decorated with several team and individual honours, from junior hockey to the professional and international levels.

Notable Awards and Achievements

• Stanley Cup Champion (2023) as captain of the Vegas Golden Knights.
• Calder Memorial Trophy Finalist (2015), finishing second in voting.
• Frank J. Selke Trophy Finalist (2019) for best defensive forward.
• NHL Takeaways Leader (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19).
• WHL East First All-Star Team (2010-11).
• WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player (Brad Hornung Trophy) (2011-12).
• IIHF World Championship Most Valuable Player (2019).
• IIHF World Championship Silver Medal (2019) and Gold Medal (2016).
• World Junior Championship Bronze Medal (2012).
• Named to Team Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Detailed Career Timeline and Key Moments

Mark Stone's career is marked by specific, important moments that defined his progression. After his draft year, he attended his first NHL training camp with Ottawa in September 2010 before being returned to junior. His 2010-11 WHL season was a breakout, with 106 points in 71 games, placing him first on his team and third in league scoring. At the 2011 Subway Super Series, he recorded a goal and an assist for Team WHL against the Russian select squad and was named player of the game. His NHL playoff debut on April 21, 2012, resulted in an assist on a Jason Spezza game-winning goal. The 2014-15 "Kid Line" with Hoffman and Lazar was instrumental in his rookie success. A hit from Dustin Byfuglien on March 30, 2016, forced Stone from a game for concussion tests, and he missed the rest of that regular season. His final game with Ottawa before the 2019 trade was on February 23, 2019. In Vegas, his first playoff hat-trick on April 14, 2019, made him the first Golden Knight to achieve that in the postseason. His captaincy was announced on January 12, 2021. The sequence of his back injuries and surgeries in 2022 and 2023 presented a major career challenge that he overcame to win the Stanley Cup. His consistent ability to lead the NHL in takeaways, a feat he accomplished four times, remains a defining statistical achievement of his career.

Questions about Mark Stone

What team does Mark Stone play for?

Mark Stone is the captain of the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League. He was traded to Vegas from the Ottawa Senators at the 2019 trade deadline and signed an eight-year contract extension shortly after on March 8, 2019. In September 2026, he signed a further two-year extension to remain with the Golden Knights through the 2028-29 season. Stone has been with the team since the 2018-19 season.

How many Stanley Cups has Mark Stone won?

Mark Stone has won one Stanley Cup championship. He captained the Vegas Golden Knights to their first title in franchise history during the 2022-23 season. In the Cup-clinching Game 5 of the Final against the Florida Panthers, Stone scored a hat-trick. With that performance, he became only the third NHL player to record a hat-trick in a Stanley Cup clinching game, and the first since Babe Dye in 1922.

What is Mark Stone known for?

Mark Stone is known for being one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards. He is best known for his exceptional defensive play and his ability to force turnovers, which led him to lead the league in takeaways multiple times. This defensive excellence made him a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2019. Stone also tied for the rookie scoring lead in the 2014-15 season with 64 points and received a Calder Memorial Trophy nomination.

Was Mark Stone drafted?

Yes, Mark Stone was drafted. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Stone dramatically exceeded expectations from his draft position and developed into an elite NHL player and a premier two-way forward. He tied for the rookie scoring lead in the 2014-15 season with 64 points and was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist.

Has Mark Stone played for Team Canada?

Yes, Mark Stone has represented Canada in international competition on several occasions. He played for Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championship, winning a bronze medal. At the senior level, he won a gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and a silver medal at the 2019 tournament, where he was named MVP. He has also been named to Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

What injuries has Mark Stone had?

Mark Stone has dealt with significant back issues in recent years. He underwent a lumbar discectomy in May 2022 after the 2021-22 season. He returned for the 2022-23 season but re-injured his back in February 2023, requiring a second surgery within nine months. Earlier in his career, he suffered a fractured wrist from a slash in 2015 and has also dealt with concussions.

Sources and further reading

• Mark Stone (Wikipedia)
• Endorsements by Mark Stone (ballotpedia.org)
• Mark Stone (californialocal.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.