The Vegas Golden Knights had a couple teams they should probably thank for the smashing success they had in their first season and one team just keeps on giving.
There are few teams that have been wheeling and dealing like the Vegas Golden Knights over the past year and a half, and one trade in particular has had a lot of return. Ahead of the 2017 Expansion draft, the team made a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets so that they would be “forced” to select William Karlsson. Obviously, Wild Bill worked out pretty well for Vegas.
Still, Vegas also received a first and second-round pick (And David Clarkson) in their exchange. That first-round pick turned into Nick Suzuki and the 2nd was dealt alongside that pick in the Pacioretty deal.
If only the Golden Knights didn’t pay an extremely rich fee to get the winger that they ended up benching in the playoffs, they would have made out like Kings in these trades. However, the first, second and third round picks dealt to Detroit kind of take away from things.
Either way, losing William Karlsson probably stung enough for the Blue Jackets. Now, seeing the Golden Knights acquire a 29-year-old that has averaged approximately 32 goals per season over the past five years has to just rub salt in the wound.
