As Ottawa Senators Inch Closer To Playoffs, Mark Stone Shines
As Ottawa Senators fans we all know how important some guys have been to the success of this team. Erik Karlsson, Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris and recently the Hamburglar, Andrew Hammond. With the possibility of 6 players reaching the 50 Point mark this year, the one guy that continues to impress and who currently sits 4th in team scoring is Mark Stone.
Of course, as a true hockey fan we must also keep in mind that the sample size for himself is still small as he’s only played a total of 90 games in the NHL. In those 90 games though, Stone has become one of the most productive members in this years line up.
Looking at Stone’s overall point production throughout his career, it’s easy to see that he’s been a very consistent player wherever he’s played. in 2010-11 and 2011-12, Mark registered a combined 229 points while playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. Once Drafted by the Senators in the 6th Round of the 2010 Entry Draft, Stone continued his stellar play with the Senators AHL Affiliate Binghamton Senators, racking up 79 points in just 91 games.
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Although only playing 19 games during the 2013-14 NHL season, Stone saw time on a line with Turris and Clarke MacArthur, but the majority of his time was being played on the 3rd or 4th line. With minimal minutes, Stone has made the most of his opportunity by recorded a modest 8 points, while taking a total of 4 penalty minutes.
This year he came to camp ready to make a statement, and that’s exactly what he’s done over the past 67 games. Stone’s play resembles that of a player that’s been in the league for much longer than one full NHL season with the ability to be effective in both ends of the ice. One thing that I’ve been continuously impressed with has been his ability to find the open spaces in the offensive zone and to use his hockey knowledge to be in the right position at the right times.
Being able to produce while still being defensively responsible is a hard thing to do in this league, just ask our former Captain Jason Spezza. Mark seems to be a player that takes his defensive responsibilities just as seriously as he does trying to help the team score. Other than the 6 guys whose job it is to play defense, it may be Stone who posses the best raw talent to be productive in the defensive zone with the ability to strip players of the puck quickly and routinely.
Stone continues to sit 3rd in take-a-ways per game in the NHL, a feat I’m sure he takes pride in.
Over the past 10 games, Stone has registered a very impressive 9 points (4G,5A) while playing an uptempo game with line mates Milan Michalek and Turris. I’m not ready to say that he has the ability to be the next Jonathan Toews, but this is a guy you want on your team, and a guy the Senators’ organization should be building around. He is clearly a pillar in the top 6 and with only being 22 years old, there is time for Stone to form into one of the best two-way players in the game.
With the Senators having the best record in the league since mid-February (12-1-1) and clearly in striking distance of the final playoff spot, Stone should have a very important role keeping this team in the hunt, and hopefully helping push this Senators team back into the playoffs.