BY MICHAEL GARDNER – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Did you hear the one about the team that traded their first round pick for a veteran that fizzled? The pick went on to greatness and everyone knew it was going to be a mistake at the time. If so, then it must be NHL Entry Draft season.
The season that makes prognosticators, arm chair GMs and analysts giddy with the idea of sounding like an authority on their ability to predict the future is upon us. It’s sort of like taking financial advice from a psychic, risky but maybe there is something to it even if it is just related to chance.
Logic would say that you can’t discount the draft. The vast majority of NHL players come through the draft. Looking directly at players that are successful and have come through the draft gives one the feeling that Draft Day represents a can’t miss thing. Fans cringe at the idea of trading picks for established players because of the unknown nature of the pick. He could be a superstar.
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Well, not every lottery ticket is a winner. In this blog, I wanted to look at the other side of the coin. What examples are there of teams that have come out on top by moving draft picks for established (or at least known) players? Where has the established player made more of a contribution to their team than the draftee? Not surprisingly, considering that the vast majority of picks never make it to the NHL, it wasn’t that hard. Here are few good ones over the years.
1. Penguins acquire Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from Atlanta for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and 1st round pick (Daulton Leveille)
Though Hossa ended up leaving Pittsburgh after just a short stay, they won the conference title with support from Hossa, as he earned 26 points in 20 playoff games. Dupuis has had a great career. From the Atlanta side, the pick never made it to the NHL. Neither Christensen or Armstrong are still with the team and Esposito is injury riddled.
2. Chicago acquires Patrick Sharp and Eric Meloche from Philadelphia for Matt Ellison and a 2006 third round pick
The Flyers wheeled that third round pick to Montreal for players Johnathan Matsumoto and goaltender Jakub Kovar. I haven’t heard of them but we all know who Patrick Sharp is.
3. LA Kings acquire Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelynski from Edmonton in exchange for three first round picks, Jimmy Carson and Martin
A die hard Oilers fan might say that Edmonton’s Cup win in 1990 negated, or at least softened the blow of the deal that saw Gretzky traded. I picked this one based on the significance of moving the game’s star player. The picks involved were later swapped to New Jersey and became Jason Miller, Martin Rucinsky and Nick Stajduhar. The Kings landed Gretzky, making them the clear winners in this deal which many believe signified a changing of the culture within the NHL. When Mark Messier was traded shortly thereafter, many in Edmonton believe it signified the dawn of the “small market team” and has led to some of the collective bargaining measures we see today.
4. The Detroit Red Wings acquire Chris Chelios for Anders Eriksson and two first round picks from Chicago.
Chelios was 37 at the time but went on to 10 more very productive seasons. Eriksson was a bust, so too were Steve McCarthy and Adam Munro, the players Chicago selected with the picks.
5. Detroit Red Wings acquire Larry Murphy while the Maple Leafs get “future considerations”
The Leafs didn’t end up getting a pick here at all, just cash. Many Leaf fans contend that’s all the team ever wants anyways. Murphy added two more Stanley Cups with Detroit.
6. Colorado Avalanche acquire Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuk from Boston for Brian Ralston, Samuel Phalsson and a first round pick.
The pick was used on Martin Samuelson. Bourque’s acquisition by the Avalanche put them over the top and earned both a Stanley Cup. For sentimental reasons, most of the hockey world was pulling for Bourque. While his career was short in Colorado, it was mission accomplished and I give the edge to Colorado for getting what they wanted.
7. Colorado Avalanche acquire Rob Blake and Steven Reinprecht from LA for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Jared Aulin and a first round pick
This deal was predicated based on the knowledge that Blake wanted to test the free agent waters. Considering that the NHL frowns on tampering, Colorado rolled the dice and was able to trade for and ultimately sign Blake will giving up three players and a first round pick. Circumstances aside, LA selected David Steckel with the pick who now patrols the Leafs’ fourth line while Blake netted plenty of points and a Stanley Cup over four seasons with Colorado.
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