Worst NHL Trades of All Time

Watching Brian Burke work his magic with the Phanuef trade has reminded me that NHL general managers are really just glorified fantasy managers. Both look at stats and make decisions to drop, add or trade players based on the information available at the time. Logic would suggest that GMs should be fantastic fantasy managers, but they are only human, and they occasionally fuck up just like the rest us. So the next time you make a terrible trade, don’t feel bad, at least you’re not Mike Milbury.

The Worst NHL Trades of All Time

10. I Think I’ll Trade the Greatest Player of All Time for What Amounts to Martin Gelinas and Martin Rucinsky
August 9, 1988
Edmonton Oilers traded:
Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski, Marty McSorley

To the Los Angeles Kings for:
Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, 1st round pick in 1989 (Jason Miller), 1st round pick in 1991 (Martin Rucinsky), 1st round pick in 1993 (Nick Stajduhar), 15 million in cash

9. Naslund for a Firefighter (Stojanov became a firefighter after leaving the NHL)
March 20, 1996
Pittsburgh Penguins traded:
Markus Naslund

To the Vancouver Canucks for:
Alek Stojanov

8. No Deal....Unless You Throw in Godynyuk
January 2, 1992
Calgary Flames traded:
Doug Gilmour, Ric Nattress, Jamie Macoun, Rick Wamsley, Kent Manderville

To the Toronto Maple Leafs for:
Gary Leeman, Michel Petit, Jeff Reese, Craig Berube, Alexander Godynyuk.

7. This Seems Fair
November 30, 2005
Boston Bruins traded:
Joe Thornton

To the San Jose Sharks for:
Wayne Primeau, Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart

6. Fuck it, I Really Want that Crosby Kid
July 11, 2001
Pittsburg Penguins traded:
Jaromir Jagr, Frantisek Kucera

To the Washington Capitals for:
Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek

5. I See Your Star and I Raise My Entire Team
June 30, 1992
Philadelphia Flyers traded:
Peter Forsberg, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, 1st round pick in 1993 (Adam Deadmarsh), 1st round pick in 1994 (Wade Belak), future considerations and cash

To the Quebec Nordiques for:
Eric Lindros

4. He is Just Too Small to Succeed in this League
July 31, 2000
Calgary Flames put on Waivers:
Martin St. Louis

Picked up by the Tampa Bay Lightening for:
Absolutely nothing

3. That Pederson Kid Is Going To Be A Star
June 6, 1986
Vancouver Canucks traded:
Cam Neely

To the Boston Bruins for:
Barry Pederson

2. Mike Milbury – Revenge of the Mike
June 23, 2001
New York Islanders traded:
Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, 1st round selection in 2001 (Jason Spezza)

To the Ottawa Senators for:
Alexei Yashin

1. Mike Milbury – Fuck My Teams Future
June 24, 2000
New York Islanders traded:
Olli Jokienen, Roberto Luongo

To the Florida Panthers for:
Mark Parrish, Oleg Kvasha