Over the weekend, Golden Knights fans got the news they had been waiting for all summer. For the next three seasons, captain Mark Stone is guaranteed to be a Golden Knight.
We discussed Stone’s expiring contract all offseason and believed a deal before camp was likely. However, the term was a bit of a shock. Stone took a small pay cut, and was only extended for two more seasons. VGK’s captain will be 37 when his new deal expires. It’s a possible sign Stone has a retirement plan in motion. Or it’ll simply be the time in his career to begin negotiating team-friendly year-by-year extensions. Allowing the front office to offer more cash and term to younger free agents.
We’re a team everyone loves to hate. That fuels our fire and it’s going to fuel our fire moving forward. – Mark Stone, June 15th, 2026
There’s no evidence that a lack of an extension for Stone would have created a distraction in the Golden Knights locker room. However, it was a minor concern going into training camp. We watched it play out in the 2023-24 season with 2023 Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault. From day one in camp, Marchessault was asked about a possible extension. He was later asked in October, November, December, and into the new year. By February, Marchessault was more than frustrated and began realizing that a reasonable extension was unlikely to be offered. Quietly, it became a distraction. Thankfully, we’ll never find out if the lack of a Stone extension would’ve caused some uneasiness.
Now for some wild speculation.
In three years, Stone’s $9M per season contract will expire. At that point, the veteran captain will likely sign for less, move on, or retire. Nevertheless, a good chunk of VGK’s salary cap will open up for a high-end free agent like, oh, I don’t know… Connor McDavid?
Edmonton’s captain is under contract for the next two seasons. I’m certain there’s a McDavid Master Plan locked away in a Golden Knights front office file cabinet.
As of today, Vegas can spend up to $20M on July 1st, 2028, potentially the opening bid for McDavid. It jumps to $40M in open cap space in 2029. It’s enough room to draw in McDavid and sign Stone for another season or two. Now, if Vegas acquires Olympic gold medalist goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, all master plans and scrap-written speculation will be promptly shredded.
There just isn’t enough space in Vegas for two Connors. Not when there’s a Jack, Mitch, Noah, Rasmus, Shea, and Tomas.
A VGK Fan
HERTL NEEDS TO GO
Emmanuel
Never understood why he was signed in the first place, hes not a VGK type player & they usually get great passing C. Hes a very good player but not VGK material.
Pistol Pete
If not McDavid then Matthews. One thing that could mess it up is if McDavid chooses Toronto and Matthews stays.
It’s too early of course but it would be nice if Bowman develops on some level, likely scaled down some, into a Stone type of player. A striking parallel is the lack of skating speed. Bowman’s stride is prettier at least perhaps he can add some speed. What one has to like about Bowman besides the big body and ability to stay in front of the net is the hockey IQ, vision and ability on the boards. No problem understanding what management saw in giving him the contract. Time will tell but looks the right call.
Emmanuel
Matthews has repeatedly expressed interest in pkaying in the southwest US.
McDavid going to the US would damage his brand in Canada, but the great one did it……
Emmanuel
Regarding Bowman, my main concern is that his advanced stats crater in “5 on 5 close”.
Pistol Pete
In Stone’s first 54 games he had 12G/12A (24 pts) compared to Bowman’s 8G/18A (26 pts). Not saying we can go off each player’s first 54 games nor that Bowman is another Stone in the making but at least one commentator last season noted the parallel in the style of play.
Larry
I have stated my opinion on Bowman both prior to and after the recent contract signing, and as always I will hope to be proven wrong and have to eat crow.
Emmanuel
The end of the article is a good argument against Hellebuyck.