NHL Rumors: Mark Stone Speaks On Golden Knights' "Haters"

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Mark Stone, captain of the Vegas Golden Knights, recently spoke on the growing chorus of critics who are eager to see the team falter. 

Acknowledging the "bullseye" placed on their backs by those skeptical of their rapid success as an expansion franchise, Stone emphasized that the Golden Knights have always thrived on adversity. 

"As I'm older I have realized that people are going to put a bullseye on our back because they want to see us fail," Stone said. "We haven't failed too much in our history. People want to see the Golden Knights crash and burn. But like I said, I think the foundation we built doesn't really allow for that to happen. So, I'm feeling confident.

Despite losing key players like Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, and Alec Martinez in free agency, Stone remains confident in the team's foundation and their ability to stay competitive in the NHL.

Stone noted the strength of the Golden Knights' core, which includes elite talents like Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, and newcomers Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin. 

"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. We still believe that we're one of the teams that is going to training camp with the chance to win the Stanley Cup."

He believes that these players, combined with the team's depth in critical positions like goaltending and defense, ensure that Vegas remains as formidable as any other contender. Stone dismissed concerns about the roster turnover, stressing that the addition of hungry new players will only bolster their chances of contending for another Stanley Cup.

Reflecting on his own injury challenges and the team's journey, Stone expressed excitement for the upcoming season. He noted that the disappointment of last season's first-round exit has fueled their resolve to prove the doubters wrong. 

"People think I'm lying when I say I expect to play 82 games every year. Unfortunately, I’ve had some tough injuries that I've had to deal with along the way, but I think that just builds the adversity of what our team has gone through over the last number of years. I’m really excited to get the group back together, practicing again, and start to build from the ground up. Starting day one, adding onto an already strong foundation."

Photo Credit:  Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports



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