Mark Stone played 366 games in seven seasons with the Ottawa Senators. With his time in Ottawa, Stone was a rising player. After playing in 23 games combined in the 2012-13 season and 2013-14 season, Stone took off in the 2014-15 season.
After recording 64 points in the 2014-15 season, Stone would be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and finish second in Calder Trophy voting. Stone's play helped the Senators reach the playoffs in 2015 and 2017. However, Stone's tenure in Ottawa ended in February 2019 after he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Stone recorded 311 points as a Senator.
Since being traded to Vegas, Stone has been in the middle of his long-term injured reserve controversy. Stone and Vegas have become very hatable, especially after winning the 2023 Stanley Cup. In Vegas' most recent game, Stone was in the middle of more controversy.
Stone in middle of controversial play
Last night in the middle of the third period in Vegas' last game against the Dallas Stars with Vegas up 3-2, Stone tripped Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. While some may have thought Stone should've received a game misconduct, Stone only received a two-minute penalty for tripping instead. Heiskanen didn't return to the game after being tripped by Stone.
Miro Heiskanen heads to the locker room after being tripped by Mark Stone 😳 pic.twitter.com/0i0VWQGJ2i
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 29, 2025
On the ESPN broadcast, Ray Ferraro said Stone told Stars captain Jamie Benn that he was tripped which caused him to trip Heiskanen. While Stone may have said to Benn he was tripped, there is another angle of the play.
While it does appear Roope Hintz may have had his stick on Stone's left skate, Stone does appear to push off of his right leg and lunge into Heiskanen's knees with an attempt to poke check the puck away from Heiskanen's stick. While Stone got the puck, he also got Heiskanen.
good look here. Hintz's stick puts Stone a bit off balance as Heiskanen makes a move, but you can see Stone push off his right skate and lunge into Heiskanen's knees in desperation with a poke check. That's five and a game for clipping all day long. https://t.co/rnNQNNJT5X
— Robert Tiffin (@RobertTiffin) January 29, 2025
Some could view the play as dirty, some could view the play as accidental. But, Stone is in the middle of controversy again. It's not Stone's first time ever being in the middle of controversy outside of his LTIR history. While as a member of the Senators, Stone was suspended for two games in November 2015 for an illegal hit on Landon Ferraro.
In 2023, Stone was in the middle of controversy for some words he said after a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. After being hit hard by Haden Hodgson, Stone had some choice words on Hodgson.
"That's probably the last time I'll ever play against that guy," Stone said on Hodgson. "Not really much of a player, so I'l leave it at that."
Stone and the Golden Knights fell 4-3 in overtime to the Stars, and Wyatt Johnston scored on the powerplay that Stone was called for tripping to tie the game at three. Johnston capped off the night by recording a hat trick, but Stone's tripping penalty is the main talk of the game.