Max Pacioretty is heading from the Original Six to the Sin City.
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired the All-Star forward from the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night for Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second-round pick.
Vegas announced the deal, which sends the captain of one of hockey’s oldest franchises to a club coming off a run to the Stanley Cup Finals in its inaugural season.
Pacioretty was named the Canadiens captain in 2015 and has played all 626 of his NHL games with Montreal. He recently denied reports that he had requested a trade. His name has been mentioned in trade speculation since last season’s trade deadline.
The 29-year-old Pacioretty is entering the final season of a six-year deal that will pay him $4.5 million.
Related: ‘The Stanley Cup final that was never meant to be’: Knights, Caps primed for Game 1
Related: B.C.’s Ryan Craig, Vegas Golden Knights chase history
When the Canadiens visited Las Vegas in February, Pacioretty raved about the atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena.
“Best road game I’ve ever played in,” Pacioretty said following a 6-3 defeat. “When you experience it for yourself, that was a treat to play, and I wish we played them more than once a year.
“It was unbelievable,” he added. “Everything was top notch. Couldn’t ask for better music, better atmosphere, better fans.”
Pacioretty is also familiar with Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant, who was an assistant coach under Montreal’s Michel Therrien in 2012.
“He’s a hell of a coach and a hell of a guy,” Pacioretty said in February.
Tatar had 20 goals and 14 assists last season with Vegas and Detroit. The 27-year-old was acquired ahead of the trade deadline.
Suzuki, the 13th-overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Golden Knights, had just finished playing in his second rookie game in two days at the team’s practice facility less than an hour before the announcement.
___
W.G. Ramirez, The Associated Press
