Stone ready to negotiate new contract but rival team looks to pry him out of Ottawa

This could convince him to hit the free-agent market...

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Published 5 years ago
Stone ready to negotiate new contract but rival team looks to pry him out of Ottawa
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This past summer, Mark Stone and the Ottawa Senators finally agreed to postpone contract negotiations as the star forward signed a one-year, $7.35-million deal in order to avoid arbitration. The time has now come to get back to negotiating as Stone revealed on Tuesday that he expects contract talks to ramp up in the next couple weeks now that his representation is free to once again negotiate terms on a new contract with the Senators and GM Pierre Dorion.

TSN investigated to see if it was his preference to remain with the Senators in the future. 

“This is the only place that I’ve ever played. I’ve loved living in the city of Ottawa. I love playing for this team. It’s all I can say to that. I’ve loved my time here, hopefully it can continue.”

While Stone does not become a free agent until the summer, the Senators will attempt to sign him back before the trade deadline. If the Senators are unable to make progress towards a long-term agreement with Stone before the Feb. 25 the trade deadline, the Sens will need to seriously consider moving the talented forward during the stretch run, especially if the forward is looking to explore the free market in the summer. 

Many believe Stone could be the next captain in Ottawa so the Senators will surely work hard at re-signing the veteran. However, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun believes one rival club is greatly interested in acquiring Stone's services and could have the money to make him an offer he cannot refuse. This is what LeBrun revealed on the air of Ottawa's TSN 1200

"One team that still has cap room that I always think of when I think of Mark Stone are the Vegas Golden Knights. Now, I’m certainly hoping Stone stays in Ottawa and that Mark Stone sees enough in the rebuild that he wants to stick around. But if he decides to hit the market, you cannot deny the history that exists between Kelly McCrimmon and Mark Stone, right, from their time in Brandon. And I could guarantee you that if Mark Stone went to market that Kelly McCrimmon would be in George McPhee’s ear saying, ‘Go, go, go.’ He’d be all over Mark Stone.”

Stone has tallied 18 goals and posted a total of 43 points in 40 games thus far this season, which puts him on the path toward his most productive campaign to date. The 26-year-old could look to cash in on this and Vegas will be there to fight for his services it seems... 


Source: TSN