Mark Stone's Fight With Brandon Montour Reinforced His Leadership in Vegas
Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights and Brandon Montour of the Seattle Kraken fight during a matchup at Climate Pledge Arena on October 6, 2026. Photo by Jenn G.
Written by Gina Anton
Mark Stone had already made his mark on the scoresheet before his fight with Brandon Montour became the defining moment of Vegas' 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 6.
The Vegas Golden Knights captain scored a shorthanded goal, recorded an assist and reached 400 points with the franchise. But after teammate Victor Olofsson left the game following a hit into the boards, Stone stepped into an exchange with Montour that showed another side of his value to the team.
Montour questioned why Stone had not immediately defended Olofsson. Stone later explained that he took exception to comments Montour made about the Golden Knights. The two eventually dropped the gloves during a Vegas power play, putting the captain in the penalty box instead of on the ice for a two-man advantage.
That decision caught the attention of his teammates.
“Good job by our Captain,” head coach Ryan Craig said after the game. “That’s part of the reason he wears the letter that he wears on his chest. He stepped up to the challenge there and answered the bell, and you can see the reaction from our group.”
The reaction was telling. Stone's teammates recognized that his response was about more than the confrontation itself. It reinforced the expectation that players stand up for one another, particularly when a teammate is hurt.
Defenseman Rasmus Andersson echoed that sentiment, praising Stone for being willing to take on the physical side of the game even when Vegas held a comfortable lead. Jack Eichel also called Stone the team's leader, noting how his actions energized the group.
For a team with championship aspirations, that trust can matter when games become more difficult. Stone's response offered a reminder that Vegas' identity is shaped not only by its offensive talent, but also by how its players respond to adversity together.
The captain's performance against Seattle captured both sides of that responsibility. He contributed offensively, reached a franchise milestone and became involved in a fight that energized his teammates.
One altercation will not define Vegas' season, but Stone's response showed the standard he wants the Golden Knights to maintain. For their captain, standing up for the group is part of the job, even when it means stepping away from a scoring opportunity.
