Observations:

Mark Stone – After cups of coffee with the big club the last two seasons, it appears Stone has found a permanent home with the Sens in 2014-2015. The team’s fourth leading scorer though 72 games, Stone has contributed 18 goals and 33 assists and is third on the team behind fellow rookie Mike Hoffman and Marc Methot with a plus-16 rating.  When the calendar turned to 2015 the rookie winger caught fire. Since the turn of the new year Stone has 34 points in 36 games played, scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace.  The first line trio of Kyle Turris, Milan Michalek, and Stone has been the backbone of Ottawa’s scorching finish to the season and a main reason that the Sens are pushing for a playoff spot.  The group has put up 87 points in their last 36 games making them one of the hottest lines in hockey over the last three months.  Kevin LeBlanc

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September 2014 – Mark Stone is going to get his first full season in the big leagues this year. In 19 games last year in Ottawa stone notched four goals and four assists. The Winnipeg-native is going to slot into the Senators’ second line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Milan Michalek (or newly-acquired Alex Chiasson). Although that line certainly has question marks, it will hopefully bring a new level of consistency to Ottawa’s line combinations, which were changed regularly through last season. Stone is going to get plenty of power play minutes, but expect this line to go through its fair share of ups and downs this season. Nathan Martin

May 2014 – Mark Stone was assigned to Binghamton in what was expected to be a deep Calder Cup run. Unfortunately the B Sens were bounced in the first round by the Wilkes-Barrie Penguins. Stone produced at a point-per-game (one goal and three assists) and was only one of three Sens to keep a positive plus/minus.  Bryan Murray and company are going to give Stone a shot at his first full NHL season in 2014-2015 and from what Stone showed this year he could be poised for a big year (especially if he sees extended time with Kyle Turris and Clarke MaCarthur). Stone played just 19 games in Ottawa this year, scoring four times and adding four helpers while maintaining a plus-five.  Stone continues to show he has great offensive awareness, especially around the net, and has showed improvement in his skating.  Nathan Kanter

April 2014 – Mark Stone continues to play well with the big club in his most recent recall to the Senators. Stone has now found chemistry playing with both centers Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris. Due to the recent injury to Sens forward Bobby Ryan, Stone has stepped into his slot on the Clarke Macarthur-Kyle Turris line and has looked very comfortable. Stone’s skating has improved dramatically over the last two years, and what’s becoming most noticeable is his hockey sense in the offensive third. Stone is able to find open space around the net and has also shown strength in carrying and passing the puck in tight spaces, i.e. corners, behind the net, in front of the net. Nathan Martin

January 2013 – Since being recalled from Binghamton at the beginning of the month Mark Stone has shown significant improvement in his ability to keep up with the NHL pace. In recent years the concern surrounding Stone was his skating, more specifically his North-South speed. Although his strengths have always been his slot-presence and ability to finish around the net (most can recall his seven-goal performance at the 2012 World Juniors for Team Canada), many scouts wondered if his skating would improve enough to make the leap into the NHL. Not only has Stone’s skating improved to match that of his counterparts, his offensive awareness is off the charts.  The Winnipeg-native notched his first NHL goal on an impressive solo-effort against Canadiens goalie Carey Price and also demonstrated his vision with a slick feed to centre Kyle Turris for an assist against Colorado.  The most promising thing about the young winger is the fact that he’s found notable chemistry with franchise-centreman Jason Spezza. Spezza, who hasn’t seemed to find chemistry with any players on the Sens this season (including hopeful winger Bobby Ryan), seems to work well with Stone. Some may remember Stone’s first NHL game, a playoff match against the New York Rangers in which Stone set up Spezza for the game’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory.  The Senators coaching staff certainly won’t think twice about keeping Stone in the big leagues if he continues to produce (especially if it’s with Spezza). Nathan Martin

October 2013 – Mark Stone suffered a shoulder injury while playing for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. Stone was a contender to play on the second line in Ottawa this season but was sent back to the AHL, ideally to play on the first line all season.  The Senators clearly would rather bring Stone into the NHL ready for the professional rigors of hockey. He still gets around the ice a little slow but his knack for getting open in the slot and his ability to finish in small spaces is remarkable. The injury is not said to be very serious but it’s kept Stone out of the lineup. Nathan Martin

May 2013 – After an injury plagued season (broken finger / concussion), Stone will make his second playoff appearance in two years, with the Senators in their second round match up against the Penguins. During his earlier call up Stone had no points and was minus 1 in four games. In Binghamton this year he managed to play in 54 games where he scored 15 goals and added 23 assists while having a very impressive plus-21 rating. Not blessed with great speed, Stone does have a nose for the net and pretty good hands, he just needs to stay away from the IR or he will quickly become an AHL Band-Aid Boy. Alain Dube

February 2012 – Stone is an extremely smart forward that has a very savvy scoring touch and great offensive instincts. For the past two seasons he has been one of the best junior players in Canada, and at the World Junior Championship he proved he may be one of the best prospects in the world. In six games he lit the lamp seven times and added three assists for 10 points. For the Brandon Wheat Kings he has put up 101 points in 55 games, which has him on pace to smash his points total of 106 from last season.  While Stone dominates younger talent in the WHL, he will need to work on his skating and defensive play to become an impact player at the next level. Zenon Herasymiuk

Fantasy Outlook: A+

Stone is already a first line player in the NHL and has shown the ability to put up great numbers in his rookie season. He is in consideration for the Calder Trophy (top rookie) for the 2014-2015 NHL season. 

Footage:

Mark Stone’s 1st NHL goal:

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Stone finds the back of the net for Canada at the World Juniors:

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