Speculation: Craziest trades that almost happened

[n8]

I would have to say the Price/PK/Pac for Lecavalier trade is the craziest trade that never happened.

No way. Lindros to the Rangers at draft has that one beat hands down.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

young Draisaitl for Subban just before he left MTL is one that still haunts me

We almost traded the Pettersson pick for Subban I believe.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Bourque to the Flyers

 

[rypper]

We almost traded the Pettersson pick for Subban I believe.

It was the Juolevi pick. If Dubois was still on the board. Horvat may have been involved as well.

One of many times where Jim Benning was saved from himself.

 

[PelagicJoe]

Didn't Scotty Bowman want to trade Yzerman for Alexi Yashin around 94, 95?

 

[orby]

I have heard from multiple people who had connections to the Penguins' front office in the early Rutherford era that the Pens were very close to trading Chris Kunitz and Beau Bennett for Patrick Sharp at the 2015 trade deadline. This was after the infamous locker room fight between Sharp and Duncan Keith. Supposedly, the trade was ultimately nixed by the Pens' ownership due to concerns about Sharp's character. In the end, not making the trade worked out for both teams since they were the next two cup winners.

 

[McVespa99]

young Draisaitl for Subban just before he left MTL is one that still haunts me

Wasnt that actually Drai and Nurse? Or something like that

 

[DollardStLaurent]

Joe DiMaggio for Ted Williams. I realize it's not hockey but this has to be the greatest trade that was almost made in any sport.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

It was the Juolevi pick. If Dubois was still on the board. Horvat may have been involved as well.

One of many times where Jim Benning was saved from himself.

Until he made the pick. What a disaster all around.

 

[Flyer lurker]

Flyers related ones direct or indirect

kovalev amonte picks nemchinov patrick richter cash for lindros

Boroque would have been a flyer if he stuck to original demand of east coast teams only

G for Ranger,

Antropov, pick, one of Yushevich or Markov for Lindros (clarke wanted kaberle)

 

[CTHabsfan]

Wasnt that actually Drai and Nurse? Or something like that

Yup, plus the 4th overall going to Montreal and the 9th overall going to Edmonton. Bergevin would never have needed to trade for Drouin had the deal gone through with the Oilers. Even if he had traded for Drouin he could have played wing (where he should have been) and not been expected to become savior of the franchise.

 

[McShogun99]

I'm not sure what the rumored returns were but both Vancouver and Detroit made a substantial offer for Gretzky in 88.

 

[toddkaz]

Peca for Iginla and Buffalo said no. Facepalm

 

[McVespa99]

Yup, plus the 4th overall going to Montreal and the 9th overall going to Edmonton. Bergevin would never have needed to trade for Drouin had the deal gone through with the Oilers. Even if he had traded for Drouin he could have played wing (where he should have been) and not been expected to become savior of the franchise.

That would have been one of the worst trades in history if it happened.

 

[CTHabsfan]

That would have been one of the worst trades in history if it happened.

Really? I think it would have been one of the best!!!

 

[Goptor]

The Flyers almost traded DeAngelo to the Hurricanes.

It got turned down because it was in volation of the salary cap rules.

 

[BostonBob]

Joe DiMaggio for Ted Williams. I realize it's not hockey but this has to be the greatest trade that was almost made in any sport.

I've been a Red Sox fan since 1975 and this is the first I ever heard that rumor. I was about to reply that you were nuts and didn't know what the heck you were talking about but then I started looking around and discovered that it did actually almost happen. Sorry I doubted you.

 

[Sempiternal]

Mike Comrie for Corey Perry, but Kevin Lowe's ego got in the way.

 

[Gurglesons]

It was recently reported by Josh Yohe that Rob Blake was headed to Pittsburgh in the late '90s prior to the Avs coming in and sealing the deal.

I have heard from multiple people who had connections to the Penguins' front office in the late Shero era that the Pens were very close to trading Chris Kunitz and Beau Bennett for Patrick Sharp at the 2015 trade deadline. This was after the infamous locker room fight between Sharp and Duncan Keith. Supposedly, the trade was ultimately nixed by the Pens' ownership due to concerns about Sharp's character. In the end, not making the trade worked out for both teams since they were the next two cup winners.

Kunitz + for Oshie was also discussed. Would've prevented us from adding Kessel.

 

[Reality Czech]

The funniest part of this one is that when it was first rumored, the first response was "no way is it a one for one, St. Louis needs to add here." But Hall went 1 for 1 for Larsson, so it likely was a 1 for 1.

This comment is 4 years old but still terrible. What does one have to do with the other? Larsson's value had to be higher than Shattenkirk's. I'd say it was extremely unlikely it was 1-for-1 but Shatty would never waive for Edmonton so it's debatable this trade "almost happened"

 

[ManofSteel55]

This comment is 4 years old but still terrible. What does one have to do with the other? Larsson's value had to be higher than Shattenkirk's. I'd say it was extremely unlikely it was 1-for-1 but Shatty would never waive for Edmonton so it's debatable this trade "almost happened"

Why did Larsson's value have to be higher than Shattenkirk's? Shattenkirk was putting up a ton of points and hadn't fallen off yet. Plus, more importantly, Edmonton's idiot GM seems to have been desperate to move Hall. There were rumours of Edmonton looking at a Hall for Cody Ceci trade from Ottawa too. The Shattenkirk offer was widely reported by Oilers insiders at the time that the only reason it wasn't finalized was that Shattenkirk wouldn't waive. Whether you want to believe it or not is your call.

 

[Reality Czech]

Why did Larsson's value have to be higher than Shattenkirk's? Shattenkirk was putting up a ton of points and hadn't fallen off yet. Plus, more importantly, Edmonton's idiot GM seems to have been desperate to move Hall. There were rumours of Edmonton looking at a Hall for Cody Ceci trade from Ottawa too. The Shattenkirk offer was widely reported by Oilers insiders at the time that the only reason it wasn't finalized was that Shattenkirk wouldn't waive. Whether you want to believe it or not is your call.

We can say something is a possibility without assuming it to be fact. My only issue is that people took this unconfirmed rumor as fact from the very beginning. The reporters had no idea if there were other players or picks involved. If the Oilers wanted to improve their defensive play, Shatty would have been a very poor choice.

Regarding value, of course it's mostly opinion but Shattenkirk was always a PP specialist and a train wreck in his own end while Larsson was a young, tough, d-zone stud. Pretty sure Shatty was a UFA to be shortly after while Larsson was under contract for much longer. I guess it's up to each person to decide which is more valuable and harder to come by. In retrospect, I don't think the trade was that bad from the Oilers perspective. Replace Larsson with Shattenkirk, it's brutal for the Oilers unless another significant asset was included.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Some old flyers one all involved Hextall.

hextall for yzerman
hextall for rob blake
hextall for larmer and jimmy waite

#99 to the fyers.

 

[Brodeur]

It was recently reported by Josh Yohe that Rob Blake was headed to Pittsburgh in the late '90s prior to the Avs coming in and sealing the deal.

Yohe mailbag, Part 1: Erik Karlsson and some Penguins nostalgia

What's Erik Karlsson's personality? How long will Sidney Crosby play? Plus, some nostalgia.

theathletic.com

Also, going back 25 years, Rob Blake was seconds away from being a Pittsburgh Penguin — the news conference was literally being scheduled — when Colorado ultimately snagged him away from Craig Patrick.

Seeing that blip now, but the 25 year bit might just be a round number. That seems to be in the context of the 2001 trade deadline when Blake was an impending UFA. Interesting to say the least since the Pens couldn't afford to keep Jagr after that year. Maybe they were just trying to go all-in while they still had Jagr?

Devils apparently kicked the tires on Blake as well, but the rumored offer was futures (Ari Ahonen, David Hale, 2001 1st) and the Kings were still in the playoff hunt.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Mike Comrie for Corey Perry, but Kevin Lowe's ego got in the way.

it is worse than that-- Ducks were adding a first as well