I personally think Vegas should be stuck with him for all their deviousness.

Players traded post deadline are ineligible to play for rest of the regular season and playoffs. If VGK trades Dadonov and forces him not to play another game this season the NHLPA will file all kinds of complaints against VGK.

As long as he's traded to a team who isn't on his no trade list I don't see how Dadonov/NHLPA would have a case. It's a dick move by VGK but he doesn't have full trade protection so how would he fight it? It's within the rules as far as I know

There are NHL bylaws which predate the CBA.
Many of those bylaws have been incorporated into the CBA over time, with changes/updates as part of negotiations.
Some bylaws remain in affect in addition to the CBA. The relevant bylaw which prevents players traded post deadline from further league participation in that year, is still in effect as originally ratified.
(See Allan Walsh twitter thread where this was more or less confirmed. Though no official public source is readily available.)

That bylaw prevents any player moving from one club's reserve list to another, after the deadline, from participating in any regular OR playoff games for the remainder of the season.
(Note, UFA's signed past the deadline are eligible for regular season, but not playoffs, as they were not on another club's reserve list after the deadline.)

Players CAN be traded, but that means the end of their season. This is why we normally only see non-playoff teams making trades once the playoffs begin.
Teams normally aren't going to trade players and end their seasons early, or trade for players that they can't play.



Dadonov and the NHLPA will have no grounds for a complaint if the trade is nullified and Dadonov is moved elsewhere or waived. It's a legitimate option for Vegas and not relevant to the original trade.

I'd like to see Dadonov granted a contract termination at full value (Vegas pays his remaining salary) and classified as a free agent, making him eligible to sign with any team to finish the regular season, though he'd still be ineligible for playoffs.
Whoever is determined responsible will then be penalized with pick forfeiture and fines, and on the hook for the salary paid out to Dadonov for his termination.

Yes they will. VGK forcing a player to no longer participate in the season because of their own screw up will have major consequences. The NHLPA would file numerous complaints against VGK. It would not be pretty for the Knights in the public view or among players I’d imagine.

The NHLPA would stick up for its player. It’ll get ugly.

Aside from the potential NHLPA grievances. I don't see why Colorado would help Vegas out. Vegas is on the outside of the playoffs looking in but if they get in and are healthy to start the playoffs then they are a completely different team. Just doesn't make sense for Colorado to help Vegas increase their chances of making the playoffs.