Golden Knights whiffed on Vatanen, Dumba side deals

Full marks to Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee.

The leader of the NHL's newest outfit had 72 hours to pore over lists of available players and piece together his club's initial roster. In the end, several key hits were among his final tally, like Jonathan Marchessault, Marc Methot, and Marc-Andre Fleury.

But at the mercy of his fellow managers, who offered up various payments for McPhee to steer clear of certain players, the Golden Knights' chose instead to collect additional draft choices. In doing so, it could prove to be a costly move for the new club, which ultimately left some valuable players on the table.

That list includes Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen, as well as a pair of top-notch blue-liners the Minnesota Wild made available, particularly Matt Dumba.

Alternatively, McPhee took on the expensive Clayton Stoner from the Ducks, receiving up-and-coming defenseman Shea Theodore for his trouble. For the Wild, they offered up 2014 first-rounder Alex Tuch, plus restricted free-agent center Erik Haula, to keep the Golden Knights' attention away from Dumba, Marco Scandella, and veteran pivot Eric Staal.

Theodore and Tuch, the top payments of the side deals, may turn out to be better than what the Golden Knights could have selected. But in the here and now, Vatanen and Dumba hold supreme for Vegas. Even more so if they were chosen to be traded.

It stands to reason that even if the Golden Knights did not see the 26-year-old Vatanen or the 22-year-old Dumba as part of their future, they may have received greater payment by dealing either player in a subsequent trade.

Look at the recent history. The Tampa Bay Lightning moved a star winger in Jonathan Drouin to get their hands on defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, a top pick in last year's draft who boasts plenty of potential but who has all of four games of NHL experience.

Or even last year, in the much-discussed deal where the Edmonton Oilers flipped former first overall pick Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils to acquire top-four defender Adam Larsson.

As the Oilers and Lightning learned, top defensemen come at a premium. But the odds are the Golden Knights missed their chance to cash in. If only Vatanen and Dumba had been drafted.

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