Injuries and illnesses are a fact of life in the National Hockey League, so having strong depth players who can slot in on short notice is really important. The Calgary Flames largely avoided lengthy absences this season but when they needed blueline help, Michael Stone was ready, willing, and able to jump in and play solid minutes.
The past
A Winnipeg product, Stone played four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen, including one season as captain. His play earned him attention from scouts, and he ended up being selected as a third round pick by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Draft.