Dadonov 'wasn't really mad' about fiasco that nearly sent him to Ducks
No one would blame Evgenii Dadonov for being upset at what he had to endure this week, but the Vegas Golden Knights forward said it's water under the bridge after scoring a goal in his first game back with the club.
After finding the back of the net in a 6-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, the veteran acknowledged the uncertainty and difficulty of the trade debacle.
"I would say it was a stressful couple of days," the veteran said postgame, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "(There was) nothing I could do. I was just waiting on the decision."
The 33-year-old was playing his first game with the Golden Knights since the NHL voided the trade Wednesday that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks two days earlier. Dadonov didn't suit up for the Ducks and missed Vegas' games on Monday and Tuesday while in limbo.
Dadonov reportedly had Anaheim on his no-trade list, but the league didn't have the list on record, mistakenly rubber-stamping the swap before reviewing and canceling it.
When asked postgame Thursday if he was upset that Vegas attempted to deal him, Dadonov replied, "I guess so," but then quickly expounded his feelings.
"I kind of try and be a pro," Dadonov said. "I've been around the league. I understand every decision, so I wasn't really mad. I just have my right and just was waiting."
The fans at T-Mobile Arena cheered loudly for the winger ahead of puck drop Thursday and then again after the game when he was named second star.
Voted 2nd star of the night, but the first star in Golden Knights fans hearts tonight:
- Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) March 25, 2022
Evgenii Dadonov pic.twitter.com/tVbLFIEfBW
Dadonov finished Thursday's victory with three points after adding a pair of secondary assists on goals by Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo. The Russian is on a three-game goal streak with four markers in that span. He has five tallies and two assists in his last five contests.
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