Former Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights to add more offensive punch to a lineup that was already overachieving in their first year in the NHL.
Vegas currently enjoys a 3-0 series lead on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of their Western Conference quarter-finals series, but Tatar wasn't dressed by the Golden Knights in their Game 3 victory at Staples Center.
http://gty.im/946263818
Head coach (and former Red Wing) Gerard Gallant confirmed that Tatar wasn't injured, and was in fact listed as a healthy scratch.
In his past 10 games, Tatar has managed just goal and an assist – hardly the reward Vegas was hoping when they decided to exchange three draft picks (a 2018 1st, a 2019 2nd, and a 2021 3rd round pick) to the Red Wings for him. In their first three games against the Kings, the Golden Knights have won each by one goal. They were counting on Tatar as their trade-deadline acquirement to provide more offense than he has, but it hasn't been the case.
His final regular season stats for this season: 20 goals and 34 assists ( a respectable 54 points) in 82 games, the first three-quarters spent with Detroit.
He's still in the first year of a four-year contact signed last summer that carries an annual cap-hit of $5.3 million. He could still find a useful role with Vegas in this year's playoffs and in the seasons beyond this year. However, if his struggles were to extend beyond this year, it would be regarded as one of the young franchise's first true blunders.
BONUS CONTENT – RED WINGS PAY TRIBUTE TO TATAR IN RETURN
The Detroit Red Wings formally thanked former forward Tomas Tatar with a short tribute video during a stoppage in play during their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, whom Tatar was traded to at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.
Tatar also acknowledged the crowd, who gave him a hearty reception.