Mark Stone

For the second year in a row, back surgery cost Stone a massive chunk of the campaign. He underwent his latest procedure in January with the intent of being ready for the NHL playoffs, and he was, following up a 38-point regular season with 24 points over 22 contests in the 2023 postseason. Given that Stone is entering his age-31 campaign, the risk of injury can't be ignored, especially since it's been in the same area repeatedly in recent years. At his best, the Vegas captain is among the best two-way forwards in the league, but fantasy managers must be prepared to account for absences of 20-plus games in a worst-case scenario. If he does manage to stay healthy in 2023-24, then he should finish with 60-70 points.

Hampered by a significant back injury, Stone was limited to just 37 games a season ago. He was his usual productive self when healthy, posting nine goals and 30 points. Stone -- who turned 30 years old in May -- eventually had surgery that same month to fix the issue and is expected to be fully healthy from training camp. There's obviously significant bounce-back potential here. Stone is a point-per-game threat every single season, although how much he will ultimately be able to help fantasy managers is entirely dependent on if he is able to suit up on a nightly basis. The injury risk here is real, but the reward is potentially significant.

One of the best two-way forwards in the game, Stone put up an impressive 61 points in 55 contests last season. The 29-year-old also did that without the benefit of an elite center, as he and Max Pacioretty frequently flanked Chandler Stephenson in 2020-21. While Stone's 21.4 shooting percentage last year was a career high not likely to be repeated, the drop-off shouldn't be too significant. He's virtually guaranteed a top-line role and first-unit power-play duties, and he'll even get some chances to kick in shorthanded points. The Manitoba native has long been underappreciated, but he should be considered an early-round option at right wing for managers that miss out on some of the high-scoring options.

Last year, Stone reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth consecutive season -- he's also eclipsed the 60-point threshold in five of those campaigns. Considering the dynamic winger was able to produce consistently impressive totals in Ottawa without much support, he shouldn't be significantly impacted by the offseason departure of Paul Stastny, even if it means his center isn't the same caliber of player in 2020-21. Of the 74 points the 27-year-old Stone has recorded as a member of the Knights, 20 have come with the man advantage, a ratio that should hold true moving forward as he continues to be featured on Vegas' top power-play unit, making him a high-end fantasy option in all formats.

Stone has checked nearly every box necessary to qualify as an elite producer in the NHL. In addition to being a perennial 20-plus-goal-scorer and premier setup man, the revered winger is a constant threat with the man advantage, and he's mindful of what goes on in the defensive zone. An absolute steal by Ottawa with a sixth-round, 178th overall pick (2010), Stone refined his game with the Senators before the rebuilding club offloaded him to Vegas at the 2019 trade deadline. Still, no longer being the focal point of an offense could present some challenges for the Winnipeg native. Stone averaged 0.85 points per game in Ottawa, only to fall to a 0.61 rate in 16 regular-season games donning the golden armor, though he's now under contract for eight years and $76 million as a key incentive to produce at the highest level.

By most accounts, the Senators profile as a bad team heading into 2018-19. However, someone's going to have to score goals in Ottawa. That someone is likely Stone, one of just three Senators left on the roster who lit the lamp at least 20 times in 2017-18. With Mike Hoffman now in Florida, Stone figures to get even more opportunities to score and produce offensively. Whether he can maintain his assist numbers is another matter. He posted a career-high 42 helpers last season, but having Hoffman around helped make that possible. Stone will need to develop the same chemistry with Matt Duchene if he hopes to keep those numbers up and post another 60-point season. Assuming he's recovered from a leg injury, Stone profiles as a mid-round selection in most formats.

Stone enjoyed another solid campaign in 2016-17, notching 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) in 71 games, but his owners may have been slightly disappointed with that performance, as he wasn't able to surpass the 60-point threshold for a third consecutive season. However, he also missed 11 contests to injury, so if he’s able to stay healthy in 2017-18, he should be able to return to form as a 60-plus-point scorer. The 2010 sixth-round pick will reprise his role as a top-six forward for the Senators next season, and he'll also return as a member of Ottawa’s top power-play unit, a role that should provide him with plenty of opportunity to succeed offensively. If he’s able to avoid major injury this season, Stone will once again be a rock-solid and relatively risk-free addition to any fantasy roster.

Having earned his spot on the top line, Stone wasn’t able to surpass his Calder Trophy-nominated rookie season, but still had an excellent campaign despite it ending prematurely due to an upper-body injury. He potted 23 goals, assisted on 38 and maintained an excellent 15.2 shooting percentage (16.6 last year), a reflection of his sniping ability. The 24-year-old has been highly efficient and figures to be a consistent scorer for years to come, overcoming his lack of pedigree as a 2010 sixth-round pick. With Kyle Turris set to return from his ankle injury, Stone will have the Sens' top center back, and the two could be joined by Mike Hoffman on the left wing to form a powerful trio. It also certainly doesn’t hurt that the 60-point man skates next to Erik Karlsson on the man advantage, and new coach Guy Boucher brings special-teams expertise that could take things to another level. Stone is in line for another monster campaign, making him a safe and rewarding draft-day selection.

Stone has come to dominate every level he's played at -- from his two 100-point seasons in junior to his 41 points in 37 AHL games two years ago -- so last year's emergence that earned him a Calder Trophy nomination shouldn't have come as a total surprise to the hockey community. But even those who felt optimistic about the former sixth-round pick couldn't have seen last season's stunning 26-goal, 64-point bust out on the horizon, as Stone eventually seized top-line duties at right wing away from Bobby Ryan. After scoring on a very high 16.6 percent of his shots last year, Stone's probably due for a bit of regression in that category, but he's still perched atop the depth chart alongside Kyle Turris, which is a formula for plenty more fantasy productivity as he enters his age-23 campaign. He may not have elite speed, but Stone's got hockey smarts in spades, and that often counts for more.

Stone recorded four goals and four assists in 19 games with the Senators last season, and will likely be a player on the fringe of the NHL roster once again in 2014-15. He put up more than a point-per-game in the AHL last year, so there's a chance he could find his stride in the NHL when he gets an opportunity, but there's no reason to pick him up until he proves he has taken that next step.

Stone racked up 15 goals and 23 assists in 54 games with Binghamton (AHL) last season but failed to earn a single point during four games of NHL play last season. Clearly, the Senators are interested in using him in the future and this could be the year he claims a spot for himself on the big club. If he does consistently get into the lineup, he'll likely play a mostly depth role where he'll have limited fantasy value.

Stone had a breakout year as a junior in 2011-12, leading Canada's U20 World Junior Champtionship team in scoring with seven goals and three assists in six games. Picked in the 6th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Stone has improved his stock by leaps and bounds, especially his skating which was thought of as well-below average when he was first drafted. He's worked hard on improving his skating over the last few years working with Ottawa's training staff during the offseason. While he's considered a bit of a longshot to make the big club out of training camp this season, he posseses excellent hockey sense, soft hands, and a big body, allowing him to get into open spaces to fire home goals or set up his linemates with nice passes. Stone will either play in the AHL or NHL this year as he's no longer eligible for junior. He'd be an excellent pick in deep keeper leagues and has already played one NHL game, suiting up in Game 5 of the Senators-Rangers opening round playoff series this past spring. In that game, Stone set up Jason Spezza for the game-winning goal with a nice pass between the legs of a Rangers defender, a clear indicator of his skill and vision.

Stone, selected by Ottawa in the 6th round (178th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, turned quite a few heads last season as he potted 37 goals and added 67 assists for the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 6'3", 200-pound power forward has great skills with the puck, but will need to improve his skating, something he's already admitted needs work. Stone will play his last year in the WHL in 2011-12 before making the jump to the pros in 2012-13. He also has a good shot at making Canada's U-20 World Junior Hockey squad this year which bodes well for his future as a pro.