Stone 'getting the itch' to help Golden Knights defend Stanley Cup title

WINNIPEG -- Mark Stone is enjoying his offseason as captain of the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, but he can't wait for it to end.

"It's been a short summer but a great summer," Stone told NHL.com. "I'd do anything to do this all over again next year, but I'm excited to get back again."

Stone, along with his wife, Hayley, and his father, Rob, brought the Staley Cup to HSC Children's Hospital on Wednesday. It was his second day with the Cup as part of the Golden Knights' Champions Tour, where each member of the team and coaching staff gets time with the Cup.

It has been six weeks since Vegas won the Cup on June 13, defeating the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena, and it's about six weeks until training camp ahead of this season.

He said the Golden Knights are ready to try to run it back.

"We are getting the itch to get back in the gym, getting the itch to get back on the ice," Stone said. "Sometimes you think (a teammate) wants the time off and then you get a month in and you're ready to get back. I'm ready to get back."

Stone has missed plenty of time the past two seasons. He was limited to 37 games in 2021-22, returning late in the season in the hopes of helping Vegas get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Golden Knights didn't qualify, and he had a lumbar discectomy in May 2022.

He had 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in the first 43 games last season, but he injured his back again against the Panthers on Jan. 12, and was out the rest of the regular season.

Stone had his second back surgery in nine months Jan. 31. He returned for Game 1 of the playoffs and had 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games, including a hat trick in the deciding Game 5 of the Cup Final, a 9-3 win against Florida.

"It's been a hard couple of years, health-wise," Stone said following the Cup Final. "When the team started having that success in February, we started getting rolling, it just gives you all the energy to work as hard as you can, get back and be a part of this team."

Now the 31-year-old forward, who has 514 points (196 goals, 318 assists) in 584 regular-season games for the Ottawa Senators and Golden Knights and 74 points (34 goals, 40 assists) in 95 playoff games, is ready to get back on the ice and playing for the fans of Vegas.

"I'm excited with our team and I love playing where I am," he said. "I'm obviously fortunate to fulfill the dream of winning the Stanley Cup. A lot of guys have said it's addicting, so I feel it."

NHL.com independent correspondent Darrin Bauming and staff writer Amalie Benjamin contributed to this report