Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone was none too pleased after he was hit from behind earlier this week by Los Angeles Kings forward Hayden Hodgson, a career minor-league player still attempting to become a regular in the NHL.
"That's probably the last time I'll ever play against that guy," Stone told reporters after the game. "Not really much of a player, so I'll leave it at that."
And while there's been varied reaction to Stone's comments, one particular figure who is chiming in is someone who is now wearing the captain's C for the first time in his career. Brad Marchand, who was named the official successor to Patrice Bergeron this month, didn't appear to agree with Stone's implication that he shouldn't have been hit.
“I wouldn’t be happy just because you don’t ever want to get hit like that, regardless of whether he’s an NHL player or not,” Marchand replied. “But at the same time, that’s how every guy had to play to get into the NHL. You’re out there to do a job, trying to make an impression and steal someone’s career. So, if you think you’re going to go out there and not get hit, it doesn’t matter who you are; you have to be ready to play every single night.
“I understand that guys don’t like getting hit preseason because they’re worried about – a guy like him, he’s making a lot of money, he’s on a very long-term deal; he knows he’s going to be on the team, and he’s been a little bit injury-ridden so he wants to get into the season and do well and focus on that.”
If Marchand did take a hit like Stone did from someone who has mostly played in the minors, would he air his grievance as publicly?
“It depends on the situation if it was dirty or not; I thought that was a clean hit,” Marchand responded. “But again, I was that kid one time, and I was doing that same stuff in intra-squad games, so I don’t feel bad doing it to guys on opposing teams. So, that’s part of the gig. It has kind of left the game a little bit because they’re trying to get physicality out of hockey, but there’s still kids that are going to do it. So, if you get comfortable out there not getting hit, it’s going to happen at some point, but we’re in training camp, and like I said, to make a team out of camp, you need to steal someone’s job, which is ultimately someone’s career and you’re not going to let that happen easily so regardless of whether it’s intrasquad, or practice or during games, you’re going to get everybody’s best, and everyone’s highest compete. If you’re not, then those guys don’t deserve to be here.”
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