Watch for Frank Vatrano in the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights matchup

The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. What makes this matchup unique is the Ducks have plenty of formidable players despite being a rebuilding team. Names like Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras make the team a consistent scoring threat. There's also Lukas Dostal, who posted excellent numbers against the San Jose Sharks.

Yeah, I know. 3.7 goals saved above expected seems like a long stretch after one game. However, Anaheim is banking on him to do terrific things, specifically in the team's future. Young stars such as Beckett Sennecke will also carry significant roles in the team's viability, providing speed and shooting acumen to the offense.

But the Ducks aren't expected to do much for the upcoming season. Many pundits have overlooked the franchise in favor of more attractive picks, including the Golden Knights. Why go for a middling team to do anything when other squads have Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jack Eichel, and Quinn Hughes? The sheer appeal of these players is enough to pick them as the Stanley Cup champions before the season starts.

Still, the Golden Knights could have their hands full on Sunday. These weapons could form a "flying V" and crash the party at T-Mobile Arena. Either that or a "knuckle puck" could decide the game, leaving the Ducks to walk out of Las Vegas with two points. Whatever the case, Vegas should be alert for Sunday's game, specifically with this one player.

Watch for Frank Vatrano in Sunday's game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks

Frank Vatrano has been at the forefront of the Vegas Golden Knights's peripheral vision for some time. Fans were hoping Kelly McCrimmon would pull off a trade for the winger last season, given he had an extra year of control. Unfortunately, that never happened as he stayed put with the Anaheim Ducks.

Still, there's no reason why the Golden Knights shouldn't watch for the Massachusetts native. He might not see as much ice time as he's accustomed to despite a modest increase to 18:20 TOI/GP in 2023-24. However, he makes the most of his opportunities, scoring 37 goals last season. 13 of those came on the power play, which could add more bite to the special teams unit.

He also excels at extending the play and wearing down opposing defenses. One way the Golden Knights can neutralize Vatrano is by applying additional pressure and forcing him to make mistakes. The 2024 All-Star isn't the biggest player on the ice, standing at 5'11". Vegas can get rough with him and take him out of the play, ensuring their transition game takes it from there.

The winger is a solid anchor on the lower six's left side, creating various mismatches for opponents offensively. However, his defensive skills have been suspect in recent years. The former All-Star isn't the best at puck retrievals, often lagging behind his opponents. That's where that pressure comes into play for the Golden Knights. Make him work and create more opportunities in the offensive end.

Could Vatrano still be in play for a trade by the deadline?

Last season, the Vegas Golden Knights saw their power play taper off, leaving them searching for answers. They settled for Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin to carry the load and the team saw the unit improve. That momentum carried over to the season opener, where the Golden Knights were two of three on the power play.

How that unit does during the regular season will indicate if he becomes a target once again. What will be the asking price for the Anaheim Ducks to consider a move? Could Brendan Brisson or another notable prospect be involved? It's too early to put together a trade scenario where it could happen. However, Frank Vatrano could be on the team's radar should Anaheim fall behind again.

While the Massachusetts native might be an attractive option to consider, Vegas might go a different direction. They could look at the goaltender position for an upgrade if Samsonov doesn't work out as a secondary option. Kelly McCrimmon might not make a move at all, given the team has looked solid aside from getting involved in high-scoring affairs. Whatever the case, Vatrano will be in the Golden Knights's face all season.