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With a two-year, $18 million contract for their captain, the Vegas Golden Knights have addressed a major offseason issue: their leadership. The veteran forward will be contracted through the 2028-29 season at an average annual value of $9 million, according to the team’s announcement on Thursday that Mark Stone has agreed to a two-year agreement worth $18 million. He will also avoid becoming an unrestricted free agent when the last year of his initial eight-year contract starts thanks to the new agreement.
Before agreeing to the new contract with Vegas, Stone would have been ready to enter the market following surgery and the last year of his contract.
Instead, he’s signed to remain in the team’s locker room for at least a couple more seasons, and the Golden Knights keep a significant leader settled in the room. Following a blockbuster trade to Vegas in 2019, the 34-year-old Stone became the competitive soul of their team and the honoree of their playoff run after an incredible championship victory. He’s proved to be an elite two-way forward with great production and numbers that might lead one to believe he’s only getting better with age, and for the Golden Knights, the stability of having Stone coming back helps keep any distractions from the hockey world outside the locker room. Carrying a $9 million price for two more years means the organization has considerable faith in what a healthy Stone can provide both on and off the ice.
With their captain in tow, Vegas turns all of its focus on chasing Stanley.
Source: Official NHL Announcement / Associated Press / The Times of India
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