Nightmares can be followed by sweet dreams. Tanner Pearson woke up on Friday with a good feeling and a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Pearson, 32, was able to call his wife, Meaghan, at their home in Kitchener, Ontario, and begin the process of reuniting their family.

Pearson lived in a hotel during the Golden Knights’ training camp while his wife and two children remained in Canada. Vegas brought Pearson to camp for a professional tryout (PTO) without the promise of a contract. His excellent play and character led to Vegas offering GM Kelly McCrimmon a one-year contract for $775,000.

The last two seasons have been miserable for Pearson. During the 22-23 campaign, while a member of the Vancouver Canucks, Pearson injured his hand, leading to three surgeries and a lost year. Last season as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, Pearson broke both of his hands and faced more frustration.

When no contract offers came his way this offseason, his agent was able to arrange a tryout with Vegas. The hope was that a full summer of training would get him back to where he was before a bout of injuries.

Pearson was skating excellently, especially on the left side of the fourth line, with Brett Howden in the middle and Keegan Kolesar on the right side. Pearson, a Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, scored two goals and three points in the preseason while posting an impressive plus-four rating.

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy is impressed with Pearson’s hockey sense.

“Tanner did all the little things. He’s a guy who has played in the league and he has some offense as well,” Cassidy said. “I liked the way he played and he’s a character person too.”

Pearson played in 644 NHL games and scored 138 goals and 147 assists.