TSN has a great top-ten list today. “Top ten players traded for Olli Jokinen.” Sounds like a Letterman list. But since the top two players are the ones the Kings got in the ’99 trade, I have to agree. Easily, if you ask me, one of the most important trades in Kings history.
The Hockey News — THN.com Top 10: Players traded for Olli Jokinen
2. Bryan Smolinski, to Los Angeles from the Islanders – June 19, 1999 The well-traveled center played for eight teams in 15 seasons. The first two seasons with the Kings after being moved for Jokinen were two of his best, scoring a total of 47 goals and 115 points.1. Ziggy Palffy, to Los Angeles from the NY Islanders – June 19, 1999 The nifty right winger is still around, in Europe, anyway (he’ll be at the Olympics playing for Slovakia), and was already a three-time 40-goal scorer when he was the centerpiece of the first trade Jokinen was involved in. He went on to score 150 goals and 340 points in 311 games for Los Angeles.