Players with bad timing and missed getting a cup with their team

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Tough to use guys like Gartner for this. If a guy gets traded because the team doesn't think they can win the Cup with him, or that the guy they get in return will help them more, did he miss on the Cup? Especially for a Gartner, who was dealt 70 games into the season. Unless the player asks out, that's an issue with any trade though.

The fun one would be Scott Stevens. Wanted to stay in St.Louis, didn't want to go to NJ, but forced to. In July 1994, days after leading the Devils to the 2nd best record and the league and an all-time great conference final series against the Rangers, still signed an offer sheet to go back to St.Louis, only to be matched by the Devils. Then, in 94-95, of course the Devils win the Cup, followed by 2 more. He won multiple Cups in spite of himself. Maybe he still wins some in St.Louis, but we'll never know.
 
The Caps lost Nate Schmidt to Vegas in the June 2017 expansion draft, then they beat Vegas in the Final that season, hoisted the Cup in Vegas, and proceeded to run around carousing and teabagging the city all weekend. Rude.

Vegas deals him in 2020, very much against his will, and the Knights go on to win the Cup without him a couple of years later.

He spent three years in Winnipeg (2021-2024) before joining the Cup-defending Panthers for this season.

Winnipeg is totally winning the Cup this summer, over Florida in the Final.
 
Sure, I guess, but the dude he was traded for was fundamental to that win. Huberdeau never was, never could, so at a certain point it’s not bad timing, just a player who ain’t good enough to be the guy.
I disagree. The coaching change was the biggest reason why they stepped up to the next level. They are not winning that cup with Brunette. Even with Tkachuk in the lineup.
 
Paul Coffey several times.

Though he won plenty of Cups anyway.

The Oilers trade Coffey in 1988, and went on to win their 4th Stanley Cup that Spring.

The Penguins win their first Cup with Coffey, but then trade him in 1992 just before winning their second Cup.

The Kings trade him in 1993, just before making their run to the Finals.

The Wings trade him at the start of the 96-97 season, just before they finally win their first Cup of that era.


Teams that got serious about winning Cups generally did not think that Paul Coffey was a vital piece of the puzzle.
 
Zarley Zalapski for the Pens. Played with them for ~4 seasons before getting traded to the Whalers and the Pens winning B2B in 91, 92. His name would have been the coolest name on the Cup, but I would say the pieces coming back in the trade helped the Pens win though lol.
 
Zarley Zalapski for the Pens. Played with them for ~4 seasons before getting traded to the Whalers and the Pens winning B2B in 91, 92. His name would have been the coolest name on the Cup, but I would say the pieces coming back in the trade helped the Pens win though lol.

The Pens probably don't get that win without the deal with Hartford to acquire Francis that ZZ was a key part of going the other way.
 
Thought of a few long time Ducks who were on the 2003 Cup finalist team that weren't around for the 2007 Cup.

Paul Kariya - left in 2003 as free agent - 9 years (606 games with Anaheim)
Steve Rucchin - traded in 2005 after the lockout ended - 10 years (616 games)
Ruslan Salei (RIP) - left in 2006 as free agent - 9 years (594 games)
 
A fun one in the positive sense:

Al Arbour joins the NHL as a rookie in 1953-54 and wins the Cup with Detroit.

He wins the Cup with Chicago in 1960-61, and that's no good so he's sent to the Leafs.

In his first season with the Leafs in 1961-62, he wins the Cup and then does it again a year later for good measure in 1962-63 for his third straight.

He joins the expansion Blues in 1967-68 and immediately goes to three straight Cup Finals (1968, 1969, 1970). (The expansion teams had their own crappy conference, and one of them had to win... but still!)

Quits as a player shortly thereafter, having learned all he could from Scotty Bowman, and takes over head coaching duties for the expansion Islanders. Because he's such a slacker, it takes him... checks notes... only six years to learn how to coach and start winning his four straight Cups (1980-1983).
 
The Oilers trade Coffey in 1988, and went on to win their 4th Stanley Cup that Spring.

The Penguins win their first Cup with Coffey, but then trade him in 1992 just before winning their second Cup.

The Kings trade him in 1993, just before making their run to the Finals.

The Wings trade him at the start of the 96-97 season, just before they finally win their first Cup of that era.


Teams that got serious about winning Cups generally did not think that Paul Coffey was a vital piece of the puzzle.

Not something I thought I'd ever hear about a player many feel is top-10 all time for d-men
 
John Vanbriesbrouck with the New York Rangers (1981-82 to 1992-93)

Billy Harris with the New York Islanders from 1972-73 until traded mid season in 1980. Butch Goring coming in return is considered to be the missing piece that launched the Islanders dynasty
Yeah Billy Harris is a great answer. He was the Islanders' first ever pick, plays every season with the franchise, gets traded at the 1980 deadline and the tem promptly goes on to win four Stanley Cups in a row. The Islanders would win 19 playoff series in a row, Harris would play 12 more playoff games in his career.
 
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Marcus Johansson won 2 presidents trophies with the Caps, was let go the summer before they won the cup, and eventually brought back in the fold after their window closed. Kind of like Herschel Walker and the 90’s Cowboys in that regard.

Brooks Laich was a longtime Cap and fan favorite from 2003-16 who was pretty much crushed when he got traded. I think he’s been open about how difficult it was to watch them win the Cup without him a year and a half later.
 
I know Adam Deadmarsh had already won a cup with the Av's in 1996, but he was a fan favorite and traded away in 2021 at the trade deadline for Rob Blake (couple other players involved as well). Av's went on to win the cup that year.

Someone already posted about future hall of famer Tyson Jost being traded away close to the deadline during the Av's 2022 cup run.
2001?
 
Colby Armstrong was part of the youth core that went on to win the Penguins Cups.

Along with Billy Harris of the Islanders I'd add Ed Westfall too, was a core player of the expansion and retired the year before they went on to win four Cups.
 
I don't love the examples of players who were dealt away in deadline deals. They were usually traded to improve the team. Hossa, on the other hand, had really bad timing,
The Caps lost Nate Schmidt to Vegas in the June 2017 expansion draft, then they beat Vegas in the Final that season, hoisted the Cup in Vegas, and proceeded to run around carousing and teabagging the city all weekend. Rude.

Vegas deals him in 2020, very much against his will, and the Knights go on to win the Cup without him a couple of years later.

He spent three years in Winnipeg (2021-2024) before joining the Cup-defending Panthers for this season.

Winnipeg is totally winning the Cup this summer, over Florida in the Final.
I like you.
 

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