Every NHL fanbase has one trade it wishes it could erase.
A young star gets moved too early. A general manager panics. A team chases a quick fix and ends up handing another franchise a future Hall of Famer.
Some mistakes fade with time.
These ones never did.
Here are five of the worst trades in NHL history.
5. Toronto Trades Away the Pick That Became Scott Niedermayer
In 1989, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenceman Tom Kurvers from the New Jersey Devils for a future first-round pick.
Toronto struggled, and that pick became third overall in 1991.
New Jersey selected Scott Niedermayer.
Kurvers played fewer than 100 games for the Maple Leafs. Niedermayer became one of the greatest defencemen of his generation, won four Stanley Cups and eventually entered the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Toronto did not technically trade Niedermayer.
But that is exactly what it feels like.
4. Toronto Sends Tuukka Rask to Boston
This one only became more painful with time.
In 2006, the Maple Leafs traded Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew Raycroft.
Toronto believed Justin Pogge was its goalie of the future. Raycroft lasted only two seasons with the Leafs.
Rask became a Vezina Trophy winner, a Stanley Cup champion and the winningest goaltender in Bruins history.
The worst part?
Toronto sent him directly to one of its biggest rivals.
For years, the Leafs searched for stability in net while Rask helped Boston remain a contender and repeatedly stood in Toronto’s way.
3. The Islanders Trade Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen
In 2000, the New York Islanders traded Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha.
The Islanders made the deal because they planned to draft Rick DiPietro first overall.
That gamble backfired badly.
Luongo became a Hall of Fame goaltender. Jokinen developed into Florida’s captain and one of the best scorers in franchise history.
Parrish was a useful player, but the Islanders gave up a future Hall of Famer and a future captain in the same trade.
That is almost impossible to defend.
2. Chicago Helps Build Boston’s Dynasty
In 1967, Chicago traded Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to the Boston Bruins.
Boston received three major contributors.
Chicago received Pit Martin, Gilles Marotte and Jack Norris.
Esposito became one of the greatest scorers in NHL history. He won five Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Trophies and helped Boston win Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972.
Hodge and Stanfield also became important parts of those Bruins teams.
Chicago did not just lose a trade.
It helped build a powerhouse.
1. Philadelphia Pays a Massive Price for Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros was a superstar.
That is not up for debate.
He won the Hart Trophy, dominated physically and helped lead Philadelphia to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final.
The problem was the price.
The Flyers sent Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Chris Simon, two first-round picks, cash and additional pieces to Quebec.
Quebec later relocated to Colorado, and many of those assets helped form the foundation of an Avalanche dynasty.
Forsberg became a Hall of Famer. Colorado won Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001.
Philadelphia never won one with Lindros.
The Flyers acquired one of the biggest stars in hockey.
Colorado acquired the pieces to build multiple champions.
That is why it remains the worst trade in NHL history.
Honourable Mentions
The Islanders trading Zdeno Chara and the pick used to select Jason Spezza for Alexei Yashin deserves serious consideration.
Vancouver trading Cam Neely to Boston was another franchise-changing mistake.
Florida’s decision to trade Roberto Luongo to Vancouver also aged terribly.
And while Edmonton received a major return for Wayne Gretzky, trading the greatest player in hockey history will always remain one of the most shocking decisions the sport has ever seen.
Final Ranking
- Eric Lindros to Philadelphia
- Phil Esposito to Boston
- Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen to Florida
- Tuukka Rask to Boston
- The pick used to select Scott Niedermayer to New Jersey
Bad trades happen every season.
These five did more than hurt a roster.
They changed the direction of entire franchises.
Which trade do you think belongs at No. 1?
