Poll: Worst Trade 1980-1989

Which is odd since they were able to win a Cup without him. I think the reason for the Oiler’s slow burn demise can be attributed more to poor drafting and their reluctance to spend the necessary lettuce to retain their players.

I also think it’s important to note that Kevin Stevens, Cam Neely and Brett Hull weren’t regarded very highly as players when they were traded. Three very good examples for all Kings fans that want Lombardi to trade for someone splashy now.

And Quisp, I’m glad you put Scott Niedermayer on the poll. I remember when he was drafted 3rd overall in the draft that year there were questions about a knee injury or two that he endured during his junior career. I have a hunch that there will be a team or two that ends up regretting not selecting Jared Cowen in the last draft much like San Jose probably does for selecting Pat Falloon over Nieds.

… I would have thought that getting Carson, Gelinas, and the picks was a damned sight better for Oiler fans than seeing Gretzky go for nothing in the free agent market.

And, as has been stated here, the Oil won a Cup two years after the Gretzky trade. So for those fans who requested that the trade be listed here: Buck up, little campers.

If it’s a high 1st round pick, then, yes, a team can be judged for trading it away, since (depending on the year) it may well be pretty clear what they may be giving up. Otherwise, no, you really can’t judge them too harshly. That said, it’s always worth noting what those picks (say, late round picks) were used for; not to say that the team that traded away said pick was foolish to do so, but simply to remind everyone what’s possible, what those non-1st round picks mean, and how years later it’s often not the big pieces of the trade that stand out, but the afterthoughts, the picks thrown in.