Worst trades of every NHL team in the last 10 years (Part 2)

There is no such thing as a general manager with a perfect track record when it comes to trades. Every GM tries to make his team better every season, but some trades don't go the way the team executives quite imagined. Here are the worst trades by every NHL team in the last decade. So here is part 2 of the Worst trades of every NHL team in the past 10 years.


20. Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers (Loser) to the New York Islanders (Winner)

On June 22nd 2017, the Edmonton Oilers shipped 2008 22nd overall pick Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for 2011 5th overall pick Ryan Strome. At the time, most Edmonton fans were content with the trade as they criticized Eberle's lack of playoff produce as he notched only 2 points during the 2016-17 Oilers playoff run. But as it seems, the trade quickly turned on the Alberta team as they currently sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division above the Arizona Coyotes. In 24 games this season, Strome has scored a whopping 4 goals 11 points and Eberle has netted 10 goals and 18 points in the same amount of games. Eberle probably just needed a change of scenery and he got just what he wanted on that faithful June day.

19. Prospect Zach Hyman from the Florida Panthers (Loser) to the Toronto Maple Leafs (Winner)

The Florida Panthers really did a doozie when they traded prospect Zach Hyman along with a 2017 conditional 7th round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 3rd rounder named Greg McKegg. Hyman evolved into a great centreman for the Maple Leafs whereas McKegg well, didn't do much. Ever since the trade back in 2015, Hyman has played over 100 games with the Ontario based team and has netted 46 points over 3 seasons. McKegg however, notched an amazing 6 points in 31 games. 

18. 2010 1st and 2nd round picks from the Los Angeles Kings (Loser) to the Florida Panthers (Winner) 

The Los Angeles Kings haven't been on the losing side of trades in the last decade, but this trade stings without a doubt. Back in 2010, the Los Angeles Kings traded picks with the Florida Panthers. They sent their 2010 1st round pick along with their second to Florida for Florida's first rounder. As it came to bite them in the behind as their first rounder became Nick Bjugstad and their second became Jason Zucker. And guess who the Kings got to draft ahead of both players? Derek Forbort. The Kings were on the losing side big time after this trade. 

17. Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild (Loser) to the San Jose Sharks (Winner)

Remember when Chewbacca wasn't really Chewbacca? That was way back in 2011 when Brent Burns played for the Minnesota Wild. Chuck Fletcher, Minnesota's general manager, is not the type to make a lot of mistakes, but he did when he traded Burns to the Sharks for Devin Setoguchi, prospect Charlie Coyle and a first round pick. Setoguchi never scored 20 goals since, Coyle has been surprisingly decent and the first round pick Zack Phillips never put a skate in the NHL. Ever since joining the San Jose Sharks, Burns became widely known as Chewbacca, appeared in 2 All-Stars and won the Norris Trophy

16. Ryan McDonagh from the Montreal Canadiens (Loser) to the New York Rangers (Winner)

This is possibly the worst trade in Montreal Canadiens modern history. The Montreal Canadiens traded Pavel Valentenko, Ryan McDonagh, Doug Janik and Christopher Higgins to the Rangers in return for Tom Pyatt, Scott Gomez and Michael Busto. Before the 2009-10 season, which marked both the year that Gomez was dealt to the Montreal team and the year he turned 30, Gomez averaged 64 points while playing more than 78 games each season. With the numbers, we can't really blame the Canadiens for thinking that acquiring Gomez was a deal made in heaven. After being traded to the Habs, Gomez's career flipped, he got one more good season then averaged 20 points for the next 6 seasons within the league, where 3 of those were in Montreal. After the 2012 lockout, Gomez was bought out. Although the Habs still sent Ryan McDonagh for Scott Gomez. 

15. New Jersey Devils signing Ilya Kovalchuk

The New Jersey Devils have literally never made an atrocious trade in the past 10 years. The 2001 first overall pick scored exactly 816 points 816 in his NHL career. He recorded two 50-goal seasons and four 40-goals seasons before he left for the KHL. But back in 2010, the Devils left everyone scratching their heads when both sides agreed to a 17-year, $102 million deal. The NHL denied the contract because it was a rather obvious attempt to circumvent the salary cap. Both sides renegotiated and came to terms at 15-year, $100 million contract. Not only was it an enormous contract, it cost the club to get a big fine, a third-round draft pick and a much lower 2014 first-round pick than they would have earned due to league-imposed penalties. Kovalchuk bailed them out by voiding the deal when he returned to Russia in 2013.

14. 2014 first-round pick along with 2015-second rounder from New York Islanders (Loser) to Buffalo Sabres (Winner)

Back in 2013, we have no idea what went through GM Garth Snow's mind when he decided to trade left-winger Matt Moulson, a 2014-first round pick and a 2015 second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in return for then 29-year old Thomas Vanek. Vanek lasted 47 games in New York before he was traded along with a 2014 conditional 5th rounder to the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastien Collberg and a 2014 conditional 2nd-rounder. 

13. Pascal Dupuis from the New York Rangers (Loser) to the Atlanta Thrashers (Winner)

Pascal Dupuis’ tenure in New York was a short term engagement and only lasted 18 days. During his six games with the Rangers, Dupuis managed only a single goal for his lone point in a blue sweater. Less than three weeks after arriving in a trade for Adam Hall, Dupuis was sent packing to Atlanta along with a third round pick in the 2007 Draft that was eventually traded to Pittsburgh in exchange for Alex Bourret. Bourret bounced around many minor league clubs, but was never able to make an appearance in the NHL. Meanwhile, Pascal Dupuis would eventually go one to play a secondary role on the Pittsburgh Penguins as they made their way to a Stanley Cup Final victory in 2009 and remains a beloved figure in the Steel City.

12. 2008 15th overall pick from the Nashville Predators (Loser) to the Ottawa Senators (Winner)

Imagine for a second a top defense pairing of Shea Weber and Erik Karlsson. This is what Nashville passed up in allowing the Senators to jump up three spots in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Of course, there are some unknowns to consider. The Predators could have hung on to the pick and still not drafted Karlsson. Or they could have used the pick they still had at 18 to take Jordan Eberle. Instead, the Predators selected goaltender Chet Pickard. At the time it seemed like a decent choice. NHL Central Scouting’s Al Jensen said, "The first time I saw Pickard, I saw Olaf Kolzig". Six years later and not a single NHL game to his name, Pickard is officially in bust territory.

11. Ben Brishop from the Ottawa Senators (Loser) to the Tampa-Bay Lightning (Winner)

While picking up team legends like Spezza, Chara and Karlsson in trades bodes well for the franchise, they couldn’t avoid the bad trades forever. The worst may still be haunting the team to this day. The Ottawa Senators trade Ben Bishop to the Tampa-Bay Lightning for Cory Conacher and 2013 fourth round pick (Tobias Lindberg). At the time of the trade, the Senators were trading a goalie who had only made 21 starts across two seasons. They had no idea what would happen to him when he moved on. Bishop’s career took off. After playing only nine games during the 2012-13 season, Bishop took the reins of the Lightning crease and started 63 games. He won 37 that season and posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against-average. That was the start of a strong career in Tampa for Bishop. He would play parts of three seasons finishing with a .921 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against-average. Bishop also managed 131 wins while manning the Lightning crease.

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