The Anaheim Ducks' surplus of talented defensemen turned out to be just what the Vegas Golden Knights needed to snag Theodore.

The Ducks selected Theodore in the first round (No. 26) of the 2013 NHL Draft after two full seasons with Seattle of the Western Hockey League. He spent two more seasons with Seattle, finishing with 79 points (22 goals, 57 assists) in 70 games in 2013-14. He turned pro after finishing his junior career in 2015, getting nine 11 (four goals, seven assists) with Norfolk of the American Hockey League.

Theodore bounced between the Ducks and their new AHL team in San Diego for most of the next two seasons, putting up 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 53 NHL games. He scored his first NHL goal against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 13, 2016.

But with the Ducks eager to hold on to defenseman Josh Manson, they sacrificed Theodore, who was traded to the Golden Knights to ensure that Vegas selected defenseman Clayton Stoner in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Theodore improved steadily throughout the 2017-18 season, finishing with 29 points (six goals, 23 assists), working his way into a top-four role. He followed that by scoring three goals and finishing with 10 points in 20 games during the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Golden Knights advance to the Cup Final before losing to the Washington Capitals.

Theodore took his game to another level in 2018-19, scoring 12 goals and 37 points in 79 games, and increased those totals to 13 goals and 46 points in 2019-20.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• WHL West First All-Star Team (2014, 2015)
• WHL Defenseman of the Year (2015)
• Traded to Vegas by Anaheim for Expansion Draft considerations, June 21, 2017.