Throwback Thursday: Revisiting the Ottawa Senators 2010 Draft Class

By Daniel Bruce | Aug 20, 2020

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators point at Zack Smith #15 of the Ottawa Senators following Smith's first period goal against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on December 18, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 4: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during warmups prior to a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Canadian Tire Centre on October 4, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 4: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during warmups prior to a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Canadian Tire Centre on October 4, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Round 6, 178th Overall: Mark Stone (RW), Brandon (WHL)

Career Stats (NHL): GP: 449 G: 149 A: 236 P: 385

With a limited amount of selections in their possession, Ottawa was hoping to hit on at least one of their picks and they did just that with Mark Stone. The biggest steal of the whole 2010 draft, Stone has been a dominant two-way forward since his rookie season in 2014-15. Mostly critiqued for his slow skating but nevertheless, Stone would persevere, working hard to increase his speed and use his generational hockey sense to become a star.

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First becoming loved by Senators fans during the famed “Hamburglar Run” when Ottawa went on an unbelievable run to the postseason. In the last 46 games of the season, Stone produced 47 points a rate unheard of for many rookies, especially for an overlooked sixth-round pick.

Stone’s most memorable goal during his time in Ottawa is unanimously his goal near the tail end of the 2015 season when he finished off the comeback from 3-0 down versus Pittsburgh to propel Ottawa into the playoff picture. Echos of “Mark Stone!! Again!!” can be remembered to this day by Senators fans, as the Canadian Tire Center erupted.

In the most important game of the whole season, Stone fires his second goal of the game and overtime winner past veteran Marc-Andre Fleury.

Following the season, Stone would be a finalist for the Calder trophy and was almost the second Senator to win the award, the other being Senators legend Daniel Alfredsson. Over the next four seasons, Stone would never dip below 54 points and would finish over a point/game in his final two years in Ottawa, he was a star in the nations capital.

His on-ice reactions were unique and beloved by all Senators fans, Stone always played with his heart on his sleeve:

Consistently praised for his elite two-way ability many analysts find his strong offensive game to pale in comparison to how great he is without the puck.

Stone has emerged as a consistently good front-line scorer but, more importantly, an absolutely elite defensive forward.

The Hockey News ranked Stone as the best draft steal of the last decade and cited his great two-way ability as a reason why. Nominated for the Selke last season, Stone has finally become recognized for the player he is. Leading the NHL in takeaways during his time in Ottawa, Stone was a master at stripping the opponent and has been regarded as the best of all time at the art.

This pick saved the Senators draft, as no other player went on to play for Ottawa other than Stone. Snagging a player of Stone’s calibre at 178th overall is ridiculous.