Full Breakdown
Mark Stone Signs Two-Year, $9 Million AAV Extension, Keeping Vegas’ Captain in Place
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Two-Year Extension Announced
On September 12, 2026, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that captain Mark Stone has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value (AAV) of $9 million. The deal will begin with the 2027-28 season and run through 2028-29, after Stone’s current eight-year, $76 million contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Background & Context
Stone was acquired from the Ottawa Senators on February 25, 2019 and immediately became a central figure in Vegas’ rapid ascent. He was named the franchise’s first captain in early 2021. Prior to the extension, Stone was in the final year of the eight-year deal he signed on March 8, 2019, which carried a $9.5 million cap hit. His leadership helped the Knights capture their first Stanley Cup in 2023 and reach the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to Carolina in six games.
Timeline
- February 25, 2019 – Trade from Ottawa to Vegas.
- March 8, 2019 – Signs eight-year, $76 million contract (average $9.5 million per year).
- Early 2021 – Named first franchise captain.
- 2025-26 season – Records career-high 73 points (28 G, 45 A) in 60 games.
- September 12, 2026 – Announces two-year, $9 million AAV extension.
Data & Statistics
- Career totals with Vegas (through 2025-26): 396 points (136 goals, 260 assists) in 400 regular-season games, a +112 rating, and 401 takeaways (1.00 per game), the highest rate among NHL skaters.
- 2025-26 season: 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists), 1.22 points per game, ranking 11th among all NHL skaters.
- Playoff record: 102 games, franchise-leading 43 postseason goals and 84 playoff points.
- International play: Contributed four points (2 G, 2 A) to Canada’s silver-medal finish at the 2026 Winter Olympics and scored a goal in the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off victory.
Official Statements & Responses
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said the extension reflects Stone’s consistent two-way production and leadership and secures the captain’s presence through the next competitive window. The organization’s announcement highlighted Stone’s top-two-way winger profile, noting his playmaking, defensive acumen, and hockey IQ as essential to the team’s success.
Why It Matters
Locking in the captain averts the risk of Stone entering unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season, preserving continuity in a roster that has already reached three Stanley Cup Finals in nine years. The $9 million AAV represents a modest cap reduction from his current $9.5 million hit, providing modest flexibility for upcoming contracts while retaining a player who leads the team in power-play points, goals, and takeaways. Analysts note that the extension aligns with Vegas’ strategy of balancing veteran leadership with emerging talent such as forward Braeden Bowman, who signed a six-year deal earlier in September.