"It was kind of a no-brainer when (Calgary coach) Darryl Sutter
signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Flames on Friday. The 31-year-old, who was an unrestricted free agent, scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 21 regular-season games last season, his fifth with Calgary.
Stone did not play in the NHL the first two months of last season, with time on the taxi squad and with Stockton of the American Hockey League before debuting for the Flames on March 27. He played every game the rest of the season.
"I always had confidence in my ability and knew I could play," Stone said. "To be able to do it reassured that to myself that I'm a capable NHL player and I can still contribute and be a factor in games. So it was nice to get into a rhythm for me.
"… It was a good building block to hopefully continue that into this season."
Stone has scored 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 169 regular-season games for the Flames since being traded from the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 20, 2017. Selected by the Coyotes in the third round (No. 69) of the 2008 NHL Draft, he has scored 128 points (33 goals, 95 assists) in 493 regular-season games for the Coyotes and Flames, and one goal in six playoff games.
