Top 10 deadline deals in NHL history

Last Thursday gave us one of the most amazing trade deadlines in NBA history and we’re all hoping next Monday will do the same when the NHL’s deadline rolls around. To refresh your memory on just how exciting the NHL’s trade deadline can be, here are the top 10 deadline deals in NHL history.

1. Edmonton Oilers acquire Sergei Samsonov from Boston for Marty Reasoner, Yan Stasny, and a second round pick in 2006: A nice sentimental deal for Oilers fans, as Samsonov proved to be a key part of their playoff run that saw them fall one game short of winning the Stanley Cup. The Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since and the draft pick ended up being all-star power forward Milan Lucic.

2. Vancouver Canucks trade Alexander Mogilny to the New Jersey Devils for Brendan Morrison and Denis Pedersen in 2000: Mogilny was one of the most explosive players and dominant goal scorers of his era and even though he struggled after the deadline, the Devils still ended up winning the Stanley Cup that year.

3. Los Angeles Kings acquire Marion Gaborik from Columbus for Matt Frattin, a conditional second round pick, and a third round pick in 2014: Marion Gaborik never really looked at home in a Blue Jackets uniform, and was gone just under a year after being acquired in an even more shocking trade with the Rangers which involved Derek Dorsett, Derek Brassard, and John Moore. L.A. ended up winning the cup with Gaborik, so it’s pretty easy to see who won this deal.

4. New York Rangers acquire Martin St. Louis from Tampa Bay for Ryan Callahan, a 2015 conditional second round pick, and a 2015 first round pick in 2014: Most deadline deals have more than a whiff of one-sidedness to them. One team is trying to rebuild, and the other is trying to gear up for a playoff run. This trade was executed on more equal footing, with two tested NHL veterans exchanging addresses in a deal that looks good for each side.

5. Washington Capitals acquire Martin Erat from Nashville for Michael Latta and Filip Forsberg in 2013: This dea surprised many, as Forsberg’s talents were widely known, and many thought he had the potential to be a top player in the NHL. Nevertheless, Washington decided to take a risk, and now, Forsberg is the frontrunner for the rookie of the year award playing in Nashville, and Erat is playing with the Phoenix Coyotes.

6. Buffalo Sabres acquire Miroslav Satan from Edmonton for Barrie Moore and Craig Miller in 1997: Another jewel in Edmonton’s stellar trading crown, Satan turned into a 40-goal scorer in Buffalo and led the Sabres in points six times during his tenure. Has anybody heard of Barrie Moore or Craig Miller? I rest my case.

7. St. Louis Blues acquire Keith Tkachuk from Phoenix for Michael Handzus, Ladislav Nagy, the rights to Jeff Taffe, and a first round pick in 2001: An all too familiar problem in Phoenix — financial troubles — forced this deal to completion. Despite getting what looked like a lucrative return, Phoenix was still the losers of this deal — Handzus was traded soon after, and Nagy never really hit his potential.

8. New York Islanders acquire Ryan Smyth from the Oilers for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O’Marra, and a first round pick in 2007: This was a dagger straight through the heart of Oilers fans. The Smyth trade shocked nearly everyone, and angered just as many. Smyth helped the Islanders make the playoffs that year, although they lost in the first round. Meanwhile, the Oilers ultimately received three players that will only ever be answers to trivia questions.

9. Vancouver Canucks acquire Markus Naslund from Pittsburgh for Alek Stojanov in 1996: In what many consider to be the most lopsided deadline deal of all time, the Penguins gave up a player in Naslund who ended up leading an entire franchise in goals, assists, and points, for a player who scored six points in two years, and then never played in the NHL again.

10. Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Ron Francis, Grant Jennings, and Ulf Samuelsson from Hartford for John Cullen, Zarley Zalapski, and Jeff Parker in 1991: What many people don’t remember is that John Cullen was considered a young star at the time of this deal, and many Penguins fans weren’t thrilled about him being moved. They changed their tune quickly, as Francis and Samuelsson helped Pittsburgh win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Francis also finished his career fourth in NHL scoring with 1,798 points and is regarded as one of the most underrated players of all-time.