On Monday deadline before 3 pm ET, the Vegas Golden Knights announced the trade of their forward Evgenii Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks. It was turned into a tangled web situation due to some paperwork issues regarding a no-trade clause.
Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman reported on the same day that the matter is officially in dispute and investigated by the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). The trade was put on hold.
The next day, the team released a statement, “We have become aware of an issue with respect to the trade. We have been consulting with the league office. We will provide further information once it becomes available.”
On Wednesday, the NHL officially invalidated Dadonov’s trade. The NHL said in a statement the trade could not be concluded due to the contract’s clause that had not been complied with.
We have become aware of an issue with respect to the trade. We have been consulting with the league office. We will provide further information once it becomes available. #VegasBorn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 22, 2022
Golden Knights, Ducks on this matter
“We respect and accept the decision made today by the NHL with regard to our trade with Vegas on Monday,” said Anaheim general manager, Pat Verbeek.
The cause of this trouble was the deal signed by Dadonov in 2020 during a three-year, $15 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. It included the modified no-trade clause with a list of 10 teams to which 33-year-old must not be traded to and Anaheim was believed included in that list.
The Russian international was later traded to the Knights by the Senators for Nick Holden and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft on July 28, 2021.
Dadonov scored 27 points, made 15 goals and 12 assists in 62 games this season. Apparently, comparing when he was still with the Panthers in 2018-19, he made his best season with 70 points in 82 games. He was tied in goals with forwards Max Pacioretty and Chandler Stephenson.
“Evgenii Dadonov is a player we thought could help our team this year and beyond,” Verbeek said.
After acquiring center Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabers in November, the Knights are pushed to the limits of the league’s salary cap and need to figure out how to fit everybody in and remain cap compliant as the team welcomes back Dadonov.
“The Vegas Golden Knights recognize the league’s decision and welcome Evgenii back to our club,” Vegas stated.
As per reports, the Knights only have $405,833 of remaining space to work within their LTIR pool and still need to activate Mark Stone with a $9 million cap hit and Alec Martinez with a $4 million cap hit.
Meanwhile, the show must go on. With the Dadonov issue, Vegas also acquired defenseman John Moore who is currently in recovery.
“We will move forward and welcome John Moore to our organization once he’s healthy and ready to return,” Verbeek said.
The Vegas Golden Knights recognize the league’s decision and welcome Evgenii back to our club. #VegasBorn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 23, 2022
What Golden Knights get
Aside from Dadonov, Moore and Kesler officially are the Knights’ players. The Knights are pushing its budget up. Meanwhile, Kesler and his $6.875 million contract are planned to be put in Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) salary for cap relief.
“The rationale behind the move is a number of fronts,” the Knights general manager, Kelly McCrimmon said Monday.
“It’s the ability to make a move that’s going to help us manage our salary cap for the remainder of this season, but just as importantly, it also gives us a lot more flexibility heading into the offseason.”