Mark Stone is feeling slighted again. The last time he felt this way was after the Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time in team history. That offseason he, and many of his teammates, came back to prove the world wrong, and they achieved in the grandest way possible.
Even after the quick exit in the playoffs and many players heading out in free agency and trades, the captain doesn’t understand why his team isn’t once again considered Stanley Cup favorites.
What do you need to win? You need defense, you need to have great centermen, and you need to have good goaltending. Well, that’s what I don’t understand. I’m not sure why people are writing us off, because we’ve got all four top end centers at their position, and six or maybe eight defense deep. We have a goalie who has proven that he can win the Stanley Cup as a starting goalie. We have another goalie who’s proven to be of starting goalie caliber for the majority of his career. We have good, complimentary wingers, I don’t see that being too big of an issue. –Mark Stone on VegasGoldenKnights.com
Stone gave updates on his summer, chatted about the upcoming 4 Nations Faceoff, his injury history and more in a Q&A with VGK’s Gary Lawless. The lasting impression from the conversation was clearly Stone’s eagerness to validate his own thoughts about the Golden Knights in spite of what’s being said about them.
I think the foundation we built doesn’t really allow for that to happen. So, I’m feeling confident. I think the team is excited to get back. We definitely have that chip on our shoulder. A lot of people in our industry don’t believe that we can get back to the team that we know we are, but time will tell. –Stone on VegasGoldenKnights.com
The team really has gone as far as their captain has the last few seasons. He’s ready to prove the world wrong about himself and his teammates again this year. From the VGK perspective, there’s nothing more exciting than that.
James Cook
The Golden knights are definitely a Stanley cup team I agree with you wholeheartedly
Richie-Rich
My first comment is that replacing the 41 Marchessault goals and his 200 foot game is something that has yet to be determined.
The second comment is whether or not we are going to get a half season again out of our Captain.
I don’t think anyone is writing the VGK off at this point in the preseason, but the fan base is definitely not feeling as good as it did going into last year.
Henderson One
I would agree with this observation. Scoring goals does not seem to be our strength and replacing Marchessault’s goals is a challenge for this team.
hdbiker7851
It’s going to be very interesting to see how Marchy does with his new team. I am sure he has it on his mind to prove McCrimmon and crew wrong. 41 goals is nothing to overlook when we all know how difficult it is for Vegas to find the back of the net. If I recall those that were let go put up about 90 goals – Your right Richie-Rich no one is writing them off but definitely are concerned.
Emmanuel
Marchy had a 200 ft game?
knights fan in minny
you are so right
Jake
Eichel made Marchie into a star, regular season, and Cup Championship. We have others, younger, to fill in.
He and Stephenson both went to overpriced contracts.
You have to dream it to do it, Stone is on the right track!
jeffrey m sutton
82-0-0
JB
For years on this site , talk always turns to the players they are not here any,ore. Who cares! Lie a Billy bean said: You don’t replace Giambis numbers, you replicate them. Meaning you now takes the players on your final roster and use them in a way to accomplish what you need. As a fan I am always excited for the new season and new players that come to our team. But, sinbin has never been a positive place in any topic!
Richie-Rich
I am talking about the lost statistics, not the player. I specifically said that the new players have yet to show that they can replicate the lost points.
I think Dorofeyev has great potential to be even better statistically this year. I also have high hopes for Brisson and some of the other additions.
We’re excited about the season. I am also looking to Wild Bill to up his game this year.
knights fan in minny
youngster’s have to step up big R-R
NAM
I don’t think lost points will matter that much, when you are giving up 5-7 goals a game, you aren’t catching the other team any way.
knights fan in minny
wow mr bitter
NAM
Stone is the captain and is supposed to paint a positive picture. He isn’t going to shit on the org and his teammates. Of course he doesn’t know why people are writing them off. The same as you will never hear Kelly “let’s talk about disfunction” McCrimmon say he fucked up. I will say this, if Kelly can’t find a couple of defensive sound wingers to run Cassidy’s system he won’t need to say he fucked up, it will be obvious.
Emmanuel
What the hell!
All the comments are hockey related!
You spammers are slipping…..
DeezNutz
They are writing you off Mark because your team is a giant band aid! Along with health, the centers and defense are going to have to up their scoring to compensate for the lack of offense on the wings. They better be working on their shooting accuracy this off season because I’ve seen monkey shit-fights at the zoo more organized than this.
The team needs to change their goal song too I’m getting fucking sick of Vegas Lights.
Tim
Mark Stone our inspirational leader says I believe it that ends it. I’m picking Nashville just think they have firepower be it Cassidy’s system or just a lack of a good offensive players where the Predators are Smashville we Snoozeville.
knights fan in minny
Smashville has a decent d -core good depth and good goalie
TS
People have been writing Vegas off since the railroad came through! We were NEVER going to succeed. A city in this hell- hole desert?? Yet, EVERY time Vegas hit bad times, EVERY time we grew stale and outdated, Vegas rose to the times and re- invented itself. Vegas NEVER gives up! The VGK was meant to be here, meant to be OUR team, and a rocky season or two won’t define them— after all, we’re VEGAS STRONG!!