Buyer's remorse.
It's defined as having deep regret for purchasing something (or doing something, in general) that you turn out to hate. That ion detoxifier for your feet that you badly wanted? It turns out the thing rusted out after five tries. That Cuisinart ice cream maker? That was the biggest waste of $70 you could think of.
It doesn't just hit regular people, though. The Vegas Golden Knights are all too familiar with this concept. Some memorable trades catapulted the team to winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. For example, Mark Stone (103 goals, 202 assists in seven seasons with the Golden Knights) was acquired in 2019 with Tobias Lindberg for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick.
Aside from swapping Lindberg's, Vegas got their captain. They also have an excellent two-way forward who's a vital offensive piece. One can also point at Jack Eichel (91 goals, 137 assists in four seasons with Vegas) being traded from the Buffalo Sabres with a 2023 third-round draft pick for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and two draft picks. In fact, they might get Tuch back at this year's trade deadline. It's safe to say these two stars have made themselves at home in Sin City. They're representing their respective countries in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
So why Noah Hanifin? Well, dear reader. That's supposed to represent the uglier side of trades. The defenseman might be joining Eichel in the 4 Nations festivities. However, he only has six goals and 17 assists in 2024-25. Add in a plus/minus rating of -3 and fans have a right to be concerned about the player they got last March. In the spirit of the trade deadline coming up and buyer's remorse, here are three of the worst trades in franchise history.
Nick Suzuki heads to Montreal and becomes a hit
A previous post mentioned Max Pacioretty going to Sin City for a package that included Nick Suzuki. The goal? Getting a go-to scorer who could boost the offense. In four seasons with the team, he had 97 goals and 97 assists, making a good offensive piece... when on the ice. Injuries derailed his campaign in Nevada, leading to a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes. That's what happens when you only play 87 games in two seasons.
As for Nick Suzuki? Well, he has 15 goals and 37 assists in 2024-25 with the Montreal Canadiens. Overall, he has 123 goals and 215 assists in six seasons, along with 217 takeaways. In the short term, this was a good move to boost the Vegas Golden Knights's Stanley Cup hopes. However, they also lost out on a solid depth piece at center.
Nolan Patrick heads to Las Vegas... for a season
The whole Cody Glass saga is one of the most bizarre tales in franchise history. The former first round pick was traded to the Nashville Predators for Nolan Patrick, who acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers.
The trade looked promising considering he was a young, developing star. However, he only played 25 games in 2021-22, scoring two goals and five assists. He also had a series of migraines that limited his abilities, both in Philadelphia and Las Vegas. It also didn't help that he suffered a devastating hit at the hands of Nathan MacKinnon. This was a trade that ultimately hurt both sides, especially with the former first-round pick retiring in his 20s.
Anthony Mantha makes a brief stay in 2023-24
Last season was one of the most productive trade deadlines Kelly McCrimmon has ever had. He made three trades that season, consisting of Anthony Mantha, Tomas Hertl, and Noah Hanifin. For this trade, the Vegas Golden Knights sent over two draft picks (2024 second-round pick and 2026 fourth-round pick).
But this was like Max Pacioretty and Nolan Patrick combined. The team gave up some key pieces for the future for a player who didn't produce much. The winger scored three goals and seven assists (one on the power play) in 18 games, becoming an unreliable piece who didn't get a contract extension. Meanwhile, Hertl and Hanifin are with the team for years to come, factoring into their new team's plans (although it might be Hertl who helps more).