Have you ever looked at something and said, "Man, I wish they held onto him a little longer?" Some of us have certain regrets in life, whether it's investing in a particular stock (hello, Palantir) or not going on a specific trip. These can haunt you for the rest of your lives, leaving an empty space in your heart.
Doesn't that sound depressing?
It's as depressing as losing to your bitter rivals in the second round. Now, you're subjected to listening to tasteless jokes and trolls puffing their chests out like Conor McGregor. All of this would've changed with some goal scoring!
Speaking of which, that's the topic for today's discussion. Two players come to mind regarding the biggest regrets. Now, this doesn't involve retired players because this would be completely pointless.
It also doesn't involve Jonathan Marchessault. Some Golden Knights fans might've yearned for the Misfit's shot and sniping abilities. However, there's a separate piece about this topic.
With that, let's dive into who could've been of great assistance during the Golden Knights' playoff run. These two players would've been a major boon in the team's run. And yes, we're not naming Marchessault, so let's get that out of the way.
Two players the Golden Knights wish they had back
First, it would've been nice to have another winger to score goals. That was apparent in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, where Stuart Skinner got two straight shutouts. Do you know how dry you have to be to let Skinner get two straight shutouts (think of Kanye West after going off the rails)?
That's where Alex Tuch would've been perfect. He scored 36 goals with a middling Buffalo Sabres team this season, boasting a booming shot. He also had two solid runs as a middle-of-the-pack winger, scoring 19 goals during his four postseason appearances.
Yes, you wouldn't have gotten Jack Eichel from the deal. But you had a chance at Tuch this season. Another player that comes to mind is Nick Suzuki. The breakout star for the Montreal Canadiens scored 30 goals and 59 assists.
While he never played a minute with Vegas, he would've provided scoring depth for the Golden Knights against Edmonton. Add in the fact that he's 25 years old and it would've helped from a youth standpoint.
He would've also made the Golden Knights unstoppable down the middle, adding youth and a scoring touch. Sure, he does plenty of passing himself. That has been a big problem with the Golden Knights this postseason. However, scoring 30 goals is solid enough to get Vegas's former first-round pick some love here.
Why Logan Thompson wasn't named
Here's the thing, dear reader. As much as some Golden Knights fans would've loved to have Logan Thompson back, it was ultimately his choice. He wanted to prove himself as a starting goaltender in the NHL (and move closer to his fiance) and Kelly McCrimmon granted his wish.
Believe it or not, he did great for himself in the regular season. Thompson posted a GAA of 2.49 (seventh in the NHL) and a save percentage of .910 (tied for ninth). However, he did better in the postseason with a GAA of 2.41 and a save percentage of .917.
Still, his last three postseason games saw him fall off a cliff. He had a GAA of 3.38 and a save percentage of .884 in that span. Would he have been successful against the Wild and Oilers? Maybe.
However, it's ultimately a choice that he made. He wanted to become a successful starting goaltender and ran away with it. Therefore, he doesn't make the cut.