trades that helped bad teams become good teams

[The Panther]

Last place in the division and on a ten game losing streak is great?

They were in a slump to start the season. It happens to good teams.

The year before Thornton they were better than the first year with Thornton.

 

[Voight]

Last place in the division and on a ten game losing streak is great?

To be fair they had made the WCF the previous season in 2004.

 

[Crosby2010]

Thornton was who I immediately thought about. Coffey to Pittsburgh can be a good example too.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Talked about a ton but Gilmour to the Leafs really turned the franchise around. 1991-92 Toronto was 10-25-5 before the trade, then went 20-18-2 the rest of the way. Not great of course, but the real dividends began to show the next season, with Toronto having their first winning season since 1977-78 and making it to the Conference Finals, again for the first time since '78. Gilmour was a finalist for the Hart and won the Selke trophy, while setting a franchise record for points and assists in a season.

 

[Boxscore]

How are we not referencing the Nordiques Lindros to Philly trade?? Quebec went from...

80gp - 20W - 42L - 11T = 52 points (2nd to last in entire NHL) in 1991-92

to...

84gp - 47W - 27L - 10T = 104 points (4th best in entire NHL) in 1992-93

This is the ultimate franchise-altering trade.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Calgary trading for Miikka Kiprusoff led them back to the playoffs for the first time in 8 years and all the way to the cup finals. Made the playoffs consistently the next few years too.

 

[The Panther]

How are we not referencing the Nordiques Lindros to Philly trade?? Quebec went from...

80gp - 20W - 42L - 11T = 52 points (2nd to last in entire NHL) in 1991-92

to...

84gp - 47W - 27L - 10T = 104 points (4th best in entire NHL) in 1992-93

This is the ultimate franchise-altering trade.

Yes, although Quebec dipped a bit in 1993-94 before roaring back for nine straight (!) 1st-place divisional finishes starting in 1995.

Lindros actually had a similar effect on Philly, considering that club had less to work with:
Before Lindros
.469 (missed playoffs by 12 points)
With Lindros
.494 (missed playoffs by 4 points)
.476 (missed playoffs by 4 points)
.625 (1st place)
.628 (1st place)
.628 (2nd place)
.579 (2nd place)
.567 (2nd place)
.640 (1st place)

LeClair trade was big for Philly, too, of course...

 

[MadLuke]

I thought about Lindros NordiquesFlyers trade, but it was hard for me to distinguish trades that helped or drafting all-time prospect first overall helping bad teams become good teams...