Worst Rangers trade of all time

[Vickers8]

Zubov
Middleton
Ratelle and Park
Cally

 

[bobbop]

​

I got to give a shout out to the Henrik Lundvist Ranger of his era, Gump Worsley for Jacques Plante.

I was thinking about this one too but Rangers also got Phil Goyette and Donnie Marshall in that trade.

Plante was just awful with the Rangers.

 

[True Blue]

Plante was just awful with the Rangers.

A former, aging superstar who came to the Rangers and continued to decline? Where have we seen that before?

 

[alkurtz]

I have a lot of fond memories of Goyette and Marshall. When we were emerging as a league power in the early years of the Francis era, Goyette, Marshall, and Bob Nevin were our second line. Goyette was a sweet playmaker and Marshall was a second team NHL All-Star selection (those selections meant something in those days). Perfect example of guys who were extra players with Montreal, only getting significant playing time when people were hurt, who became fine players when afforded the opportunity.

And speaking of Bob Nevin: that might have been one of the best Ranger trades of all time. If I remember correctly, Andy Bathgate, Don McKenney for Nevin, Rod Seiling (still in juniors but regarded as the #1 prospect in hockey) and minor league defenseman Arnie Brown. Billy Hicke may have been in that trade too.

The trade really got us going and accelerated our emergence as an NHL power, even if it took a few years. Nevin was our captain, Seiling became a really fine defenseman, and Arnie Brown had a few good years for us when we were becoming an up-and-coming team.

That might have been the first time I remember a bad team trading an NHL aging superstar (Bathgate) to a contender (Toronto) for a young vet (Nevin) and top prospects. Kind of the reverse of life in Ranger land these days.

 

[E-Train]

Wow. That Bathgate trade set the team up for years. 3 good young assets for a fading vet.

 

[frozenrubber]

The reverse of the premise of this thread:

Mike York for Tom Poti

I have never seen a trade at the time so universally believed to be such a horrible deal. Despite being despised by many, Tom Poti after the trade ended up outproducing Mike York (222 points vs. 184 for those counting at home).

I still to this day loathe the Mike Gartner trade. Mike Gartner historically feasted on the Devils, and firmly believe Matteau's heroics would of been unnecessary w/ Gartner still on the team.

 

[Captain Lindy]

The Beck trade. I loved Bubba, but hated that trade. We gave up way too much for one player.

 

[haohmaru]

Flame me if you will, but in all honestly, Leetch was a ***** about that trade. It wasn't a real "see ya Charlie" trade. He was a rental, and he had the whole lockout to rest. He chose not to sign with the Rangers, and he played with Boston. You have to remember that he was traded to Toronto in 2004. He signed as a UFA with Boston after the lockout. I agree with you on the first two trades, but I really disagree with the Leetch trade.

Moreover, there had to be at least 100 trades at deadline day in 2004. People were talking about the WHA making a return if the NHL collapsed.

Furthermore, Leetch had been playing like **** for a while. The real crime was how poorly the Rangers chose with the return from Toronto.

Whoa. What? The guy had no idea it was coming and was traded on his birthday for god's sake. Why the **** WOULD he re-sign with the Rangers who just blitzed him? The Rangers were the ass hats here.

"I was devastated about the trade, I thought I was going to be a Ranger for life. I got the call on my birthday, flew to Boston to get my stuff, and then flew to Toronto. I wish I knew that I was going to be traded, and that the organization's mindset about having me there for life had changed. The pain hasn't gone away." - Leetch

That being said, the Rangers got *a lot* for an aging Leetch who was a shadow of his former self - still a good defenseman, but not worth what the Leafs paid for him.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

The reverse of the premise of this thread:

Mike York for Tom Poti

I have never seen a trade at the time so universally believed to be such a horrible deal. Despite being despised by many, Tom Poti after the trade ended up outproducing Mike York (222 points vs. 184 for those counting at home).

I still to this day loathe the Mike Gartner trade. Mike Gartner historically feasted on the Devils, and firmly believe Matteau's heroics would of been unnecessary w/ Gartner still on the team.

^ This

There is no way the ECF would have needed to go to 7 games with #22.

 

[chosen]

I have a lot of fond memories of Goyette and Marshall. When we were emerging as a league power in the early years of the Francis era, Goyette, Marshall, and Bob Nevin were our second line. Goyette was a sweet playmaker and Marshall was a second team NHL All-Star selection (those selections meant something in those days). Perfect example of guys who were extra players with Montreal, only getting significant playing time when people were hurt, who became fine players when afforded the opportunity.

And speaking of Bob Nevin: that might have been one of the best Ranger trades of all time. If I remember correctly, Andy Bathgate, Don McKenney for Nevin, Rod Seiling (still in juniors but regarded as the #1 prospect in hockey) and minor league defenseman Arnie Brown. Billy Hicke may have been in that trade too.

The trade really got us going and accelerated our emergence as an NHL power, even if it took a few years. Nevin was our captain, Seiling became a really fine defenseman, and Arnie Brown had a few good years for us when we were becoming an up-and-coming team.

That might have been the first time I remember a bad team trading an NHL aging superstar (Bathgate) to a contender (Toronto) for a young vet (Nevin) and top prospects. Kind of the reverse of life in Ranger land these days.

When I first started watching hockey on Saturday nights on Channel 9, I was astonished how good Montreal was. After a couple of games of Rangers watching, I began to marvel at the passing skills of Goyette.

He was my first favorite player and it's because he made me understand the beauty and geometry of the game that I fell in love with hockey.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Whoa. What? The guy had no idea it was coming and was traded on his birthday for god's sake. Why the **** WOULD he re-sign with the Rangers who just blitzed him? The Rangers were the ass hats here.

"I was devastated about the trade, I thought I was going to be a Ranger for life. I got the call on my birthday, flew to Boston to get my stuff, and then flew to Toronto. I wish I knew that I was going to be traded, and that the organization's mindset about having me there for life had changed. The pain hasn't gone away." - Leetch

That being said, the Rangers got *a lot* for an aging Leetch who was a shadow of his former self - still a good defenseman, but not worth what the Leafs paid for him.

I need a link for the quote to fairly comment.

Leetch would have been a Ranger for life minus 2 months as a rental. He was being a ***** about it.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

Ridley and Miller for Carpenter is the worst trade of my lifetime. It still makes no sense.

The Bob Frose trade is another deal that made no sense. Kjell Samuelsson was a good defenseman and the Rangers were set in goal with Beezer.

I have no issues with the Gartner and Amonte trades. The Zubov trade REALLY hurt the team. I swear I remember reading at the time that one of the reasons Zubov was traded was because he smoked cigarettes. Does anybody else remember that?

 

[Off Sides]

Jagr for Anson Carter

If the Rangers would have just naturally been that bad they would have had a chance at Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, Toews, Kane.


sort of

 

[Miamipuck]

Ridley and Miller for Carpenter is the worst trade of my lifetime. It still makes no sense.

The Bob Frose trade is another deal that made no sense. Kjell Samuelsson was a good defenseman and the Rangers were set in goal with Beezer.

I have no issues with the Gartner and Amonte trades. The Zubov trade REALLY hurt the team. I swear I remember reading at the time that one of the reasons Zubov was traded was because he smoked cigarettes. Does anybody else remember that?

I think it irked management, he was a chain smoker I believe. I also heard he hung out in Brighton beach too much, partied and didn't care enough about hockey. There were a lot of not flattering reports put out in regards to Zubov. I am willing to bet most were greatly exaggerated.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

I think it irked management, he was a chain smoker I believe. I also heard he hung out in Brighton beach too much, partied and didn't care enough about hockey. There were a lot of not flattering reports put out in regards to Zubov. I am willing to bet most were greatly exaggerated.

So you remember it too? I'm telling you at the time I was like "He smokes, what's the big deal?" and now I can't believe I thought that was just a small vice and nothing to be afraid of. Now I think smoking is the most disgusting thing a person can do.

 

[Miamipuck]

So you remember it too? I'm telling you at the time I was like "He smokes, what's the big deal?" and now I can't believe I thought that was just a small vice and nothing to be afraid of. Now I think smoking is the most disgusting thing a person can do.

Yeah, of course, there supposedly were complaints from with in about his dedication, smoking, penchant for hanging out in Brighton Beach, soft play, Messier didn't like him (supposedly that's false) etc. etc.

I was so pissed at that trade, I think I remember all the noise people used to justify it. Now I honestly do not know what was true or not, though. lol

I just knew that I loved the way he moved the puck, his head was always up looking for make an outlet pass, shoot etc. plus teamed with Leetch, I have never seen 2 pointmen that good on the power play. He is a great example for how a modern defenseman should play. Lol I am sure his corsi/fenwick would be kick ass.

Oh well Dallas fans got to enjoy the bulk of his career.

 

[McRanger]

So you remember it too? I'm telling you at the time I was like "He smokes, what's the big deal?" and now I can't believe I thought that was just a small vice and nothing to be afraid of. Now I think smoking is the most disgusting thing a person can do.

You need to get out more SOS.

Seriously though, of all the things athletes do that are no-no's (hardcore narcotics, spousal/child abuse, sexual harassment, rape, murder, fornicating with LiLo) smoking cigarettes is pretty tame. Unless he was blowing smoke in the face of disabled children or something.

 

[Miamipuck]

Here is a topical article, funny:

http://www.si.com/nhl/2012/02/29/players-smokingcigarettesnhlhockey

When Mike Keenan arrived to coach the Blackhawks in 1988, he noticed something disturbing in his team's dressing room at Chicago Stadium: ashtrays. Not just the squiggly-squared, amber-colored glass trays that populated most public places, but tall, regal-looking stands. Finished butts, dozens of them, had been given proper state funerals, or so it looked.

Keenan, no saint but never a smoker, was shocked.

"I had just come from Philadelphia, where there really weren't a lot of guys who smoked," he says. "But I walk in and see those ashtrays everywhere, and the first thing I told the guys was: 'OK, no more smoking in the dressing room. If you gotta smoke, do it out in the hallway.' So I'm coaching my first exhibition game and I go into the dressing room after the first period to talk, and there's no one in there. I'm wondering what in hell is going on, and take a walk out to the other side of the hallway and the whole team is out there, smoking cigarettes."

 

[haohmaru]

I need a link for the quote to fairly comment.

Leetch would have been a Ranger for life minus 2 months as a rental. He was being a ***** about it.

Why would you need a link? He was asked how he felt about the trade.

As to point #2, I call BS. You trade a guy on his birthday, from the only team he's ever played for or planned to play for without telling him, and he's the ass for not signing with us over the summer? Sorry, that's crap. How often do "normal" rental UFA's return to the team that they were formerly with? How much less often do players return to teams immediately after being traded where they felt like they weren't treated properly (and he wasn't)?

We got a lot out of that deal, no question about it. But I don't blame Leetch one bit for flipping the Rangers the bird.

 

[Edge]

I have no issues with the Gartner and Amonte trades. The Zubov trade REALLY hurt the team. I swear I remember reading at the time that one of the reasons Zubov was traded was because he smoked cigarettes. Does anybody else remember that?

It was a combination of several factors.

His conditioning, including the smoking, was often seen as...lacking.

I also remember the smoking being directly tied him to being a bit of a nervous wreck in his younger days, so I think that added to concerns about his mental toughness for a grind.

Ironically enough I don't think his biggest detractor was Messier, but rather it was Campbell.

Again, we tend to forget he lasted all off 66 games with the Pens before they shipped him out west for Kevin Hatcher.

I think he matured somewhat in Dallas, and it also provided the ideal setting for him where there wasn't quite as much pressure.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

You need to get out more SOS.

Seriously though, of all the things athletes do that are no-no's (hardcore narcotics, spousal/child abuse, sexual harassment, rape, murder, fornicating with LiLo) smoking cigarettes is pretty tame. Unless he was blowing smoke in the face of disabled children or something.

I meant in the context of an athlete and what he could do to his body. I'm sorry I'm at work and I'll try to make this make sense. In 1994, I did not think an athlete smoking was enough of a detriment for him to get traded. In 2015, I can totally see that being a reason to trade somebody. It's a disgusting habit and adds NOTHING to an athlete's performance.

Honestly if "getting out more" means hearing about all the **** you mentioned I'm happy staying home. It's why I deactivated my twitter account. Not that I live with my head in the sand but I felt like getting that sort of news (and a lot of it) in real time was jarring. Like the Ray Rice video vines, I don't want to see that. I know it exists. It's terrible, I can read about it but when I see it it makes me feel anxious. So yeah, sometimes that means I'm in the dark about what player got a DUI or who got busted having sex with whomever. I'm a lot happier for it. Maybe you should get out less....

 

[Edge]

I meant in the context of an athlete and what he could do to his body. I'm sorry I'm at work and I'll try to make this make sense. In 1994, I did not think an athlete smoking was enough of a detriment for him to get traded. In 2015, I can totally see that being a reason to trade somebody. It's a disgusting habit and adds NOTHING to an athlete's performance.

Honestly if "getting out more" means hearing about all the **** you mentioned I'm happy staying home. It's why I deactivated my twitter account. Not that I live with my head in the sand but I felt like getting that sort of news (and a lot of it) in real time was jarring. Like the Ray Rice video vines, I don't want to see that. I know it exists. It's terrible, I can read about it but when I see it it makes me feel anxious. So yeah, sometimes that means I'm in the dark about what player got a DUI or who got busted having sex with whomever. I'm a lot happier for it. Maybe you should get out less....

Twitter makes me feel old.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

It was a combination of several factors.

His conditioning, including the smoking, was often seen as...lacking.

I also remember the smoking being directly tied him to being a bit of a nervous wreck in his younger days, so I think that added to concerns about his mental toughness for a grind.

Ironically enough I don't think his biggest detractor was Messier, but rather it was Campbell.

Again, we tend to forget he lasted all off 66 games with the Pens before they shipped him out west for Kevin Hatcher.

I think he matured somewhat in Dallas, and it also provided the ideal setting for him where there wasn't quite as much pressure.

I remember reading that the Rangers (Smith) wanted Nemchinov to mentor Zubov and Nemchinov thought it was stupid request. Why? Because Nemchinov was such a professional that he could not understand how a player like Zubov could not get it. I think that could also have been a generational thing.

I'll always be proud that the Rangers had the first Russians to win the Stanley Cup. They were 4 really different personalities but they were all very much Russian. All likeable.

If we ever have an underrated players thread Sergei Nemchinov is going to be near the top of the list.

 

[gorangers0525]

In my time I can't really think of any terrible trades, at least at the "gomez - McDonagh level". I'm much more disappointed at the free agent/potential free agent signings they've made over the years

 

[Edge]

I remember reading that the Rangers (Smith) wanted Nemchinov to mentor Zubov and Nemchinov thought it was stupid request. Why? Because Nemchinov was such a professional that he could not understand how a player like Zubov could not get it. I think that could also have been a generational thing.

I'll always be proud that the Rangers had the first Russians to win the Stanley Cup. They were 4 really different personalities but they were all very much Russian. All likeable.

If we ever have an underrated players thread Sergei Nemchinov is going to be near the top of the list.

Nemchinov was a VERY underrated player. Solid defensively, chips in points.

A prime Nemchinov would be a highly valued player in today's NHL.