Mark Stone’s Silent Surge: Why the Golden Knights Captain Is Quietly Powering a Career Year
Mark Stone isn’t the loudest star in the NHL. He doesn’t dominate highlight reels or flood social media with viral moments. But if you’ve been watching closely this season, you know this much: Stone is putting together a campaign that could go down as one of the best in Vegas Golden Knights history - and maybe the most underappreciated across the league.
Right now, Stone is averaging 1.46 points per game - good for fifth in the NHL. That’s ahead of names like Leon Draisaitl (1.45), David Pastrnak (1.37), and even teammate Jack Eichel (1.36).
Yes, that Jack Eichel. And while Eichel and Mitch Marner have been grabbing most of the headlines this season, it’s Stone who’s quietly been the engine behind the Golden Knights’ offense.
This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a full-on statement season from a player who’s long been a two-way force but is now producing at an elite offensive clip. The question isn’t whether Stone can keep it up - it’s whether he can stay healthy enough to ride this wave all the way into franchise-record territory.
Stone’s Career Pace Reaches New Heights
To understand just how impressive Stone’s 2025-26 season has been, you’ve got to look at his career through a points-per-game lens. His best stretch before this came during the shortened 2020-21 campaign, when he dropped 61 points (21 goals, 40 assists) in 55 games. That was peak Stone - or so we thought.
Fast forward to now: he’s on pace to blow past that mark. With 61 points in just 41 games, he’s tracking toward a career-high that would shatter his previous best of 73 points in 2018-19.
And this isn’t just a case of racking up empty-calorie points. Stone’s impact is showing up in every phase of the game, especially on the power play.
Power Play Presence: Stone’s Underrated Edge
The Golden Knights’ power play has been one of the league’s best this season - sitting fifth overall at 25.5%. Much of the credit has gone to Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, and rightfully so. But Stone has been the glue holding that unit together.
With seven goals and 15 assists on the man advantage, he’s not just contributing - he’s elevating the entire group. Stone’s ability to read the ice, make quick decisions under pressure, and serve as a facilitator or finisher depending on the moment makes him the ultimate Swiss Army knife on special teams.
He’s not the flashiest weapon on the power play, but he might be the most essential. And that’s been a key part of his offensive explosion this season.
Digging into the Advanced Numbers
If you dive into the analytics, the story gets even more compelling. According to MoneyPuck, Stone is posting career-best marks in several key shooting metrics - including expected percentage of unblocked shots that miss the net, shooting percentage on unblocked shots above expected, and overall shooting percentage.
Translation? He’s not just getting lucky.
He’s taking smarter shots, finding better lanes, and converting at a rate that reflects both skill and hockey IQ. And while fans might still yell at their screens for him to shoot more often, the numbers suggest that when he does pull the trigger, good things happen.
He’s also thriving in open space - exploiting gaps in coverage, punishing defenders who give him too much room, and consistently finding soft spots in the slot. That’s turning into goals, assists, and momentum-shifting plays that don’t always show up on the nightly highlight reel but make a massive difference in the win column.
The Captain’s Impact Can’t Be Overstated
Stone’s resurgence has come at the perfect time for Vegas. Earlier in the season, the Golden Knights got a glimpse of what life looks like without their captain on the ice - and it wasn’t pretty. Now that he’s healthy and firing on all cylinders, the team’s offense has found its rhythm again.
He’s not just producing points - he’s anchoring the attack. He’s the calming presence, the tone-setter, the guy who makes the right play at the right time. And while the spotlight often shines elsewhere, the Golden Knights know exactly who their most important player is.
If he stays on this trajectory - and stays healthy - Stone could become the first player in franchise history to hit the 100-point mark. That would be a milestone moment for both the captain and the organization. But more than that, it would be a well-earned recognition of a player who’s been doing it all, often without the fanfare.
Mark Stone isn’t surprising those who’ve been paying attention. He’s just finally getting the numbers to match the impact he’s always had. And this season, that impact might just carry the Golden Knights to something special.