Stars thrilled with deal for ex-Sen Methot

Marc Methot made a quick trip from Sin City to the Lone Star State.

After being picked up from the Ottawa Senators in the expansion draft last Wednesday, the veteran defenceman was dealt by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Dallas Stars Monday in exchange for secondround pick in 2020 and goaltender Dylan Ferguson, who was taken in the seventh-round Saturday in Chicago.

The Stars were thrilled to get Methot. He played for coach Ken Hitchcock while with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas needs veterans on the blue-line.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to acquire a player of Marc’s calibre,” Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. “He has proven to be a capable and steady defenceman that can play well with an offensive-minded partner, and he will add a tremendous amount of leadership and experience to our blue-line.”

There was hope earlier Monday the Senators could bring Methot back to Ottawa when deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to TSN that there was nothing stopping teams from re-acquiring players they lost to Vegas in the expansion draft in a trade. The issue is the Senators were never on the same page in talks with the Knights about protecting Methot.

It’s believed Vegas GM George McPhee wanted Ottawa’s top pick in 2018 and the Senators weren’t prepared to do that so the two sides weren’t close to a deal.

Methot has been a steady partner for captain Erik Karlsson the last five years but the club wasn’t willing to overpay to keep him.

The Senators weren’t happy with losing Methot for nothing to the Stars but they were cornered when alternate captain Dion Phaneuf refused to waive his no move clause and he had to be protected in the expansion draft. Ottawa opted to protect Cody Ceci — who is younger with upside — ahead of Methot.