As part of my series of articles reviewing the best and worst of the last decade, I decided to take a look at the trade deadline deals that have closed in the last ten years. These are the “biggest” deals in terms of importance at the time and long-term impact. Obviously, we don’t know the full impact of some of the latest deals, but we’ll do our best to guess.
#10 – 2009:
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Antoine Vermette from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Pascal Leclaire and a 2009 second round draft pick.
It will take a year or two to understand the full meaning of this agreement; however, on the surface, this could be an important transaction for both parties. The Senators have had a history of a shaky goaltending situation. While they’ve had some significant talents in the past (Hasek, Emery, Lalime), they all came with baggage, or hit the downside of their career. Leclaire entered the league a few seasons ago with a lot of promise and began to deliver on that promise before he was injured and had his job stolen by a rookie. Since earlier this year in Ottawa, Leclaire looks comfortable and healthy, and he’s a big reason for the strong start the Senators have enjoyed. If they can get back into the playoff picture this season, Leclaire promises to be a big part of it.
On the other hand, Vermette offers some depth at center that the franchise has never seen in the past. He finished the season strong last year in Columbus and is skating regularly on the top line this season with the Jackets. It looks like a win for both sides.
#9 – 2001:
The San Jose Sharks acquired Teemu Selanne from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for Jeff Friesen, Steve Shields, and San Jose’s second-round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Although it did not directly affect the fortunes of either team involved, this trade had a major impact on the career of one of the league’s greatest superstars of the past 20 years. During the first 10 years of her career, Selanne averaged more than one point per game and was always at the top of the scoring list. After joining the Sharks, his totals plummeted and she didn’t recover for four years when she rejoined the Ducks and saw a big comeback in his stats.
As for Friesen, he was a fan favorite in San Jose and was regularly one of the team’s leading scorers. After being traded, Friesen jumped to 5 different teams in his last 7 seasons. In general, the exchange did not work out for either party.
#8 – 2008:
The San Jose Sharks acquired Brian Campbell and a 2008 seventh-round pick (Drew Daniels) from the Buffalo Sabers for Steve Bernier and a 2008 first-round pick (Tyler Ennis).
This is another deal that has yet to be fully developed. The Sabers had no choice but to trade Campbell in 2008, and they got the best return they could for him. Bernier didn’t last long in Buffalo and Campbell didn’t last long in San Jose. The Sharks were set for a Cup run and rolled the dice on Campbell. They couldn’t keep him that summer when Chicago dumped a truckload of cash on the defenseman. The biggest factor that remains to be resolved is Tyler Ennis’ career. He has yet to graduate to the NHL level, but when he does, all signs seem to point to a big win for the Sabers in the end.
#7 – 2006:
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Mark Recchi from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Niklas Nordgren, Krystofer Kolanos and a second-round pick in 2007.
Although Recchi’s career in Carolina was very brief (20 regular season games), his impact on franchise history and durability cannot be underestimated. Recchi played a key leadership role in the Canes’ Stanley Cup run that season and contributed big goals throughout the playoffs. It’s debatable whether or not the Canes would have won, and whether they’d still be viable in Carolina if they hadn’t made that deal for Recchi.
#6 – 2007:
The New York Islanders acquired Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O’Marra and a first-round pick in 2007 (D Alex Plante).
At the time, this deal made no sense to either party. It still doesn’t make sense. The only question is who lost more? The Oilers lost the heart and foundation of their franchise over a minor pay dispute. Fans were outraged that their favorite player was ruled out. The islanders tried to land Smyth in the hope that they could convince him to stay. It didn’t happen, and the Islanders were left without a few more prospects and a first-round pick. Once again, we’ll have to wait and see how Nilsson, O’Marra and Plante fare for the Oilers. The best guess is that the Islanders are the biggest losers in the deal.
#5 – 2007:
The St. Louis Blues acquired Brad Boyes from the Boston Bruins for Dennis Wideman.
This is one of those deals that looks like a big win for both parties. Boyes and Wideman showed promise with their former clubs, but never emerged as stars until after the trade. Arriving in Boston, Wideman became an instant hit and racked up big totals, while Boyes went on a scoring streak in St. Louis. It’s hard to pick a loser in this deal. Both sides win.
#4 – 2001:
The Phoenix Coyotes traded Keith Tkachuk to the St. Louis Blues for Michal Handzus, Ladislav Nagy, the rights to Jeff Taffe, and a first-round pick in the 2001 or 2002 Entry Draft (The Coyotes selected Ben Eager in the 2001 Entry Draft of 2002).
While the Coyotes seemed to get a fortune on this deal at the time, neither outcome turned out to be very good for Phoenix. Handzus and Nagy moved to Los Angeles, while Taffe and Eager never materialized as stars for the organization. And they gave up one of the best players in franchise history. Tkachuk made an immediate positive impact on the Blues, leading them to score multiple times. While it didn’t lead to much success for the team, every St. Louis fan would agree that the Blues came away with the win in this big deal.
#3 – 2008:
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first round pick (Daultan Leveille).
This trade almost paid off in a big way for the Penguins, and will likely pay dividends for the Thrashers for years to come. Hossa played a key role in leading the Penguins to the finals that season, and was a huge motivator (at least from the fans’ point of view) in last spring’s rematch. Either way, the Hossa trade to the Pens was a big deal in Pittsburgh. The Thrashers got a lot in return. Armstrong is a player of character who will be a part of anything good that happens in Atlanta. The jury is out on Esposito and Leveille.
#2 – 2002:
The New Jersey Devils get Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay, and the 2002 first-round draft pick (later traded (Daniel Paille)).
Fresh off leading the Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999, Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner were traded to the Devils for two guys who were a big part of a pair of Cup wins in New Jersey a few years earlier. The deal was an instant hit in New Jersey. Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner played key roles in the Devils’ third Cup win a year later, while the Stars haven’t been back to the Finals since the successful deal.
#1 – 2000:
The Colorado Avalanche get Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuk from the Boston Bruins for Brian Rolston, Samuel Pahlsson, Martin Grenier and a 2000 first-round pick (RW Martin Samuelsson).
After 20 years in Boston, it was shocking to see Bourque move to Colorado, even though Boston fans seemed to embrace the Avalanche as their sister team. The trade helped give the Avalanche a leg up the following season, as they captured their second and Bourque’s first Stanley Cup win. Andreychuk would have to wait a few years for his ring, since he left in the summer of 2000 for Tampa. Altogether, this was probably the most memorable and most significant of the trade deadline deals in the last 10 years.
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