Newly-acquired Golden Knight, Mark Stone (USA Today Sports)
Update: Stone did not participate in the morning skate, but Assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon told ESPN radio that Stone will be in the lineup vs the Dallas Stars, on Tuesday evening. Stone is, in fact, at City National Arena and will be available to the media following the optional skate.
At the February 25th trade deadline, Vegas Golden Knights General Manager, George McPhee made a blockbuster trade. McPhee went out and acquired pending UFA RW Mark Stone, who was the consensus big fish of the trade deadline. Stone arrives in Vegas as the leading point-getter, with 62 points. Alex Tuch previously led the Golden Knights with just 43.
Trade Details (TSN.ca)
In return for Stone, the Ottawa Senators received defenseman Erik Brannstrom, pending UFA forward Oscar Lindberg, and Dallas' 2nd round pick in 2019. Erik Brannstrom was highly regarded in Vegas as their top prospect, while spending the all of this season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. Brannstrom turned heads in the World Juniors this year, playing significant minutes as the captain of team Sweden. Thus far in 2018-19, Brannstrom has compiled 7 goals, 21 assists, and a +1 rating in 41 games with the Wolves. Brannstrom is an offensively gifted defenseman, with the potential to be a power play quarterback immediately in the NHL. As of now, it is unclear if the Senators will use Brannstrom at the NHL level out of the gate. The Senators' defense corps are not nearly as crowded as the Golden Knights' which may lead to NHL time for Erik Brannstrom, who has the potential to be a top unit d-man.
Erik Brannstrom (USA Today Sports)
Defensemen Nate Schmidt, Colin Miller, Brayden McNabb, and Shea Theodore are all signed to contracts through the 2021-22 season. George McPhee and the Golden Knights were dealing from a place of depth, utilizing Brannstrom in the package for Stone. Heading into the trade deadline, it became increasingly obvious that Vegas' main assets and depth existed on the blue line. In losing Brannstrom, the Golden Knights still have exciting defense prospects in Nicolas Hauge, Jake Bischoff, and Zach Whitecloud, playing in the AHL. Another "win" for Vegas, is that they did not have to lose another top-end forward prospect. In the Pacioretty deal, Nick Suzuki was sent to Montreal, a big loss for the Golden Knights. In acquiring Stone, the Golden Knights were able to keep Cody Glass in their system. Glass may be ready to make the jump to the pros and possibly the NHL, as early as next season.
Lindberg was just starting to hit his stride with the Golden Knights, after an up-and-down tenure, dating back to the 2017 expansion draft. Lindberg found himself as a healthy scratch during much of his time in Vegas, but has been in the lineup of late, collecting two goals and an assist over his past five games. Lindberg has been spoken highly of, by his Vegas teammates, with multiple players agreeing that he has some of the best hands on the team. Despite his skill, Lindberg was never a great fit for head coach Gerard Gallant's forechecking-heavy system and his pending UFA status left him expendable at the deadline.
Upon trading for Stone, a pending free agent, McPhee sure to agree to a contract extension with the superstar forward, prior to making the trade official. McPhee did the same thing in the offseason, when he made a trade for Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty was inked to a 4-year, $28 million deal, two days after the initial trade. Stone's contract extension is reported to be 8 years, with an average annual value of $9.5 million. Stone was, and rightfully so, the big fish at the trade deadline this season. Stone was sitting in the number one spot on TSN's Trade Bait chart from the start season, largely due to Ottawa needing a rebuild phase.
Vegas has been struggling for goal-scoring, regularly being shut down by hot goaltending. Acquiring a forward of Stone's caliber will certainly help the Golden Knights finish their chances. Vegas does not struggle to generate shots and high danger chances, but their conversion rate could be much better. Stone's 28 goals, 34 assists, and 62 points all top the previous leaders for the Golden Knights. Another area that Stone helps is the power play. Vegas' power play continues to underwhelm and have turned in a 17.11% effort this season. Adding Stone to the power play gives Vegas another weapon, who can score from the net front and create plays from below the goal line. Stone has 5 goals and 12 assists on the power play this season, for the 20.5% unit in Ottawa.
Potential Forward Lineup For the Golden Knights: Marchessault-Stastny-Stone Pacioretty-Karlsson-Smith Pirri-Eakin-Tuch Nosek/Carrier-Bellemare-Reaves/Carpenter
Pending any travel issues, Stone is expected to participate in the Golden Knights' morning skate. Obviously, he will need a practice with the team prior to getting into the lineup, but Stone will be available Tuesday morning. Following the morning skate, Stone will be made available to the media. In his press conference, GM McPhee gushed over Stone's game, going as far as saying that Stone is "one if the best all around players in the NHL". In his pursuit of Stone, McPhee initially backed out of the race, but ended up getting the deal done because the price, "got to a point where it made sense for us".
Vegas wasn't the only Western Conference team to add at the deadline. Nashville, Winnipeg, San Jose, Dallas, and Colorado all made moves in an attempt to posture their teams for a cup run. Mikael Granlund and Wayne Simmonds were acquired by the Preds, with an eye on Simmonds reviving their anemic power play. In Winnipeg, the Jets made a handful of moves, including bringing in Kevin Hayes from the New York Rangers. San Jose added Gustav Nyquist, via Detroit with Dallas and Colorado adding Mats Zucarello and Derick Brassard, respectively. At the end of the day, the Golden Knights have added a great forward in Stone, which will make for an entertaining Western Conference battle, between the upgraded teams, down the stretch.
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