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For every NHL general manager, there’s a potential nightmare scenario: a trade that was anticipated to be pivotal for rebuilding or a significant leap toward championship aspirations backfires. Instead of progressing, the team regresses, leading to the risk of a career shift from the GM role to finding new employment.
The New York Rangers have experienced trades that left fans puzzled, questioning the rationale behind the GM’s decision. It could involve a player who failed to perform after being acquired, or it might be a player whose career flourished following his departure from New York. In some cases, it’s a combination of both.
No matter the circumstances, such trades are unforgettable for fans, regardless of their attempts to erase the memory.
Related: Rangers best trades in past 50 years, including Mark Messier
Worst Rangers trades in past 50 years
Below is an examination of the seven most detrimental trades made by the Rangers over the last five decades.
7. Singing the Blues on Buch
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The Trade: The Rangers obtained forward Sammy Blais along with a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Pavel Buchnevich.
Date: July 23, 2021
Why it mattered: Buchnevich, drafted in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft, made his way to New York three years later, gradually making strides towards NHL prominence. Coming off his most productive NHL season, which saw him score 20 goals and accumulate 48 points across 51 games in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, he became the player the Rangers had long awaited. However, as he was a restricted free agent that summer and unrestricted free agency loomed a year later, “Buch” was poised to demand more money than the cap-restrained Rangers could afford.
Faced with a challenging decision, Chris Drury, newly appointed as general manager, traded Buchnevich to the Blues for Blais, a depth forward, and a draft pick.
Regrettably for the Rangers, both players continued to develop along the trajectories they had established before the trade.
For Buchnevich, this translated into him becoming a dependable top-line point scorer, notching 73 goals and averaging nearly a point per game during his three seasons with the Blues. At the age of 29, he should be expected to maintain strong point totals well into the future.
Blais, who had served as a role player on the Blues’ 2019 Cup-winning roster, never evolved beyond that role and faced injury struggles during his tenure with the Rangers. He eventually returned to St. Louis before the 2023 trade deadline as part of the transaction that brought Vladimir Tarasenko to New York.
6. Left out
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The Trade: The Rangers obtained left wing Kevin Stevens from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for left wing Luc Robitaille.
Date: Aug. 28, 1997
Why it mattered: Robitaille ranks among the highest scorers in NHL history, but his standout accomplishments were not during his two seasons with the Rangers. He netted at least 40 goals for the Los Angeles Kings in every one of his non-lockout NHL seasons prior to being acquired by the Rangers in the summer of 1995. During this time, General Manager Neil Smith anticipated that “Lucky Luc” would enhance the Rangers’ offensive capabilities on the left wing.
However, that expectation did not come to fruition. Following two seasons in which Robitaille managed to score fewer than 25 goals, the Rangers opted to minimize their losses and trade him back to L.A. Unfortunately, the return for him was veteran left wing Kevin Stevens, once a formidable scorer for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early 1990s, whose performance had declined significantly.
Robitaille was merely experiencing a mid-career slump, while Stevens’ challenges extended beyond the rink. In fact, his 23 goals and 43 points during the 1998-99 season with the Rangers marked his best production from 1994 until the conclusion of his career in 2002. A major factor in this decline was his battle with addiction to painkillers he had taken to manage a serious head injury sustained during the 1993 playoffs. This struggle led to a downward spiral that ultimately resulted in his arrest for federal drug charges in 2016 (he is now sober and actively supports those facing addiction issues).
After returning to Los Angeles, Robitaille regained his scoring prowess, achieving at least 30 goals three more times and helping the Detroit Red Wings clinch the Stanley Cup in 2002. He is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and was recognized as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.
5. Chasing past glories didn’t work
The Trade: The Rangers brought in forwards Jari Kurri and Shane Churla, along with defenseman Marty McSorley, from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for center Ray Ferraro, forwards Ian Laperriere and Nathan Lafayette, and defenseman Mattias Norstrom.
Date: March 14, 1996
Why it mattered: Smith’s admiration for former Edmonton Oilers players persisted even after the Rangers’ Stanley Cup victory in 1994. Regrettably, that same strategy did not yield success two years later.
Prior to the 1996 trade deadline, Smith expanded his entourage of former Oilers by acquiring Kurri and McSorley, who had previously transferred from the Oilers to the Kings, and enforcer Shane Churla. This move cost the Rangers three young players as well as Ferraro, a veteran center who had joined the Rangers as a free agent in the summer of 1995.
The trade ultimately proved disastrous, as the new additions combined for only 78 games with the Rangers. Kurri and McSorley were largely ineffective in New York and departed before the following season commenced. Churla played the last 55 games of his 11-season NHL career with the Rangers, contributing a mere single assist.
To make matters worse for the Rangers, two of the young players they traded away found considerable success.
Norstrom emerged as a top-four defenseman, enjoying 11 commendable seasons in L.A. while serving as the Kings’ captain. Laperriere evolved into one of the League’s most prominent agitators, spending an additional 13 seasons, eight of which were with the Kings.
Moreover, the 110 goals scored by Ferraro after the trade, culminating in a career total of 408, solidifies this as the type of trade that haunts teams.
4. A Question of style
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“`Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Sports
The Trade: The Rangers acquired left wing Luc Robitaille and defenseman Ulf Samuelsson from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Sergei Zubov and center Petr Nedved.
Date: August 31, 1995
Why it mattered: When the Rangers selected Zubov in the fifth round of the 1990 NHL Draft, they snagged a hidden gem with a compensation pick given when the Quebec Nordiques signed Guy Lafleur. Zubov led the team in scoring during their 1994 Stanley Cup run and recorded 36 points in 38 games during the 1994-95 season. However, in the playoffs, he struggled physically against the Philadelphia Flyers’ formidable “Legion of Doom,” prompting Smith to reassess the team’s needs.
To bolster the defense, Smith traded Zubov along with Nedved to the Penguins for Robitaille and Samuelsson, a defenseman notorious for his aggressive play.
Regrettably for Smith, the NHL was evolving away from the style of play that favored large, sluggish defensemen like Samuelsson, who offered limited offensive contributions during his nearly four seasons in New York. The new trend favored skilled players like Zubov, who was subsequently traded by the Penguins to the Dallas Stars the following summer and went on to a Hall of Fame career, renowned for his puck-moving and offensive prowess.
Additionally, Robitaille’s performance had significantly declined, showing little resemblance to the player who had enjoyed eight seasons with 40-plus goals as a King before posting just 23 goals in a lockout-shortened season with the Penguins in 1994-95. In the summer of 1997, the Rangers traded him back to L.A., where he rediscovered his scoring touch. It certainly was a trade where everything went wrong!
3. A New Year’s Dud
The Trade: The Rangers acquired center Bobby Carpenter and a second-round pick in the 1989 NHL Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for center Mike Ridley and forwards Kelly Miller and Bob Crawford.
Date: January 1, 1987
Why it mattered: With Phil Esposito being one of the NHL’s premier goal-scorers, it was understandable that he would be intrigued by a young player capable of putting the puck in the net when he became the Rangers’ general manager in 1986. Carpenter, notable for being the first player to leap from high school directly into the NHL, made history by achieving the first 50-goal season by a U.S.-born player, netting 53 goals for Washington in 1984-85. Despite a dip in his offensive production in both 1985-86 and the first half of 1986-87, Carpenter was just 23 when the impulsive Esposito began 1987 by acquiring him for New York. The trade appeared reasonable at first. Ridley was coming off a strong rookie season with 65 points in 1985-86 and had 36 points in his second year, but lacked a notable background as an undrafted center from a Canadian college. Miller, drafted in the ninth round in 1982, did not seem like a significant loss either.
Initially, it was uncertain whether he would be regarded as anything special, and Crawford’s impressive 36-goal season with the Hartford Whalers in 1983-84 increasingly appeared to be an anomaly.
However, the offensive talents Carpenter possessed failed to make their mark. After five consecutive seasons with at least 27 goals and 56 points, Carpenter struggled to find the back of the net upon his arrival in New York City. He managed only two goals and 10 points over 28 games with the Rangers before Esposito, acting on impulse once again, traded him to Los Angeles in exchange for future Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne, who played just two seasons before retiring.
Carpenter subsequently enjoyed an 18-year career, transitioning into a reliable checking center who contributed to the New Jersey Devils’ Stanley Cup victory in 1995. However, he never displayed the scoring prowess that had initially drawn Esposito’s interest. To make matters worse, Ridley evolved into one of the league’s top two-way centers over the following decade, achieving 10 seasons with over 20 goals, while Miller developed into a dependable middle-six forward. The Rangers paid dearly for Esposito’s rash decision.
2. M is for Miss
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The Trade: The Rangers obtained centers Brett Howden and Vladislav Namestnikov, defenseman Libor Hajek, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2019 draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Ryan McDonagh and center JT Miller.
Date: Feb. 26, 2018
Why it mattered: Just nine years after the Rangers acquired McDonagh in one of their best trades, they sent him to the Lightning in one of their worst.
McDonagh’s exceptional two-way play significantly contributed to the Rangers being among the NHL’s elite teams for much of the 2010s. However, by the 2017-18 season, the situation was deteriorating, prompting GM Jeff Gorton to enter rebuilding mode. He traded McDonagh and center JT Miller—a talented first-round pick from 2011 who never quite fit in with the Rangers—to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had defeated the Rangers in Game 7 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Final.
At first glance, it seemed Gorton had made a great deal. Along with the draft picks, Howden was a 2016 first-round selection, Hajek was a promising young defenseman, and Namestnikov had already scored 20 goals in 62 games for the Lightning that season.
Unfortunately, the trade spiraled into a calamity. McDonagh played a pivotal role in leading the Lightning to Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.
Defeating the Rangers in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final, their former player has proven to be a capable defenseman even in his mid-30s. Compounding the issue, Miller has emerged as a prolific 100-point scorer for the Vancouver Canucks after being acquired from the Lightning in 2019. In contrast, the players and picks the Rangers received have failed to make a noteworthy impact in the NHL.
This significant oversight contributed to Gorton losing his position as Rangers GM by 2021.
1. Hodge Podge
The Trade: The Rangers traded for forward Ken Hodge from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Rick Middleton.
Date: May 26, 1976
Why it mattered: This was John Ferguson’s inaugural trade as general manager, one that remains a sore spot for many older Rangers fans.
The backdrop for this trade began six months prior, when the Rangers and Bruins engaged in what was arguably the biggest trade in NHL history at the time. The Rangers brought in scoring center Phil Esposito and defenseman Carol Vadnais from the Bruins, trading away center Jean Ratelle along with defensemen Brad Park and Joe Zanussi. Unfortunately, Esposito’s scoring prowess waned in New York. After the season, he approached Ferguson—who had taken over as GM in January 1976 following Emile Francis’s dismissal—advocating for the addition of Ken Hodge, his long-time right winger.
In an effort to revamp the Rangers, Ferguson aimed to assist Esposito by acquiring his former teammate. The Bruins, however, sought 23-year-old Rick Middleton, who had netted 22 and 24 goals in his first two NHL seasons. Though “Nifty” was undeniably gifted, his flashy style did not align with Ferguson’s vision. Therefore, Hodge, who was nine years older, became the preferred choice.
Describing this trade as a disaster would be a mild understatement. Hodge scored just 21 goals and accumulated 62 points during his only complete season with the Rangers. By the midpoint of the 1977-78 season, he was relegated to the American Hockey League, never to return to the NHL again.
After a couple of years finding his place in Boston, Middleton blossomed, embarking on a streak of seven consecutive 30-goal seasons starting in 1978-79, and surpassing 40 goals from 1979-80 through 1983-84. He guided the Bruins to three Stanley Cup Final appearances (all losses), recorded two 100-point seasons, and concluded his career with an impressive tally of 448 goals and 998 points over 1,005 games. In 2019, the Bruins honored him by retiring his jersey number.
The Rangers traded away Middleton’s promising future for Hodge’s fading past. Such a strategy rarely succeeds, and in this instance, it was undeniably a failure.
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# Revisiting the Past: The New York Rangers’ Seven Worst Trades of the Last 50 Years
The New York Rangers, one of the most storied franchises in the National Hockey League (NHL), have had their share of successes and failures over the years. While the team has experienced significant highs, including multiple Stanley Cup victories, some trades have left fans scratching their heads in disbelief. In this article, we’ll delve into the seven worst trades the Rangers have made in the past 50 years, exploring their implications and impact on the franchise.
## 1. The Jimmy Carson Trade (1988)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Los Angeles Kings
– **Traded for:** 1st Round Pick (1989), 3rd Round Pick (1989), and Bernie Nicholls
The Rangers acquired Bernie Nicholls, who had a solid career, but trading away Jimmy Carson was a significant mistake. Carson went on to have a more impactful career than Nicholls, showcasing his potential as a future star. This trade also signaled a missed opportunity for the Rangers to secure a young, elite player.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Lost potential star power.
– Highlighted a pattern of the Rangers acquiring older players instead of nurturing young talent.
## 2. The Adam Graves Trade (2001)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Detroit Red Wings
– **Traded for:** 1st Round Pick (2001) and a minor leaguer
Adam Graves was a fan favorite and a vital part of the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team. Trading him away for minimal return was a decision that left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans. Graves continued to play at a high level after leaving New York, proving that the Rangers let go of a valuable asset.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Lost a leader and fan favorite.
– Poor return on investment that failed to bolster the team.
## 3. The Pavel Bure Trade (1999)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Florida Panthers
– **Traded for:** 1st Round Pick (1999) and other prospects
Pavel Bure, known as “The Russian Rocket,” was a game-changing player. The Rangers acquired Bure but later traded him, missing out on the opportunity to build around one of the most electrifying talents in the league. His skill and scoring ability could have propelled the Rangers to greater heights.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Missed opportunity to create a dynamic offense.
– Fans were disappointed in the lack of commitment to retaining star players.
## 4. The Eric Lindros Trade (2001)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** New York Rangers
– **Traded for:** Multiple draft picks and players
While the acquisition of Eric Lindros was initially seen as a victory for the Rangers, the reality was different. Lindros struggled with injuries during his time in New York, and the team gave up a substantial amount of talent for a player who could not deliver as expected.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Injuries sidelined Lindros for significant parts of his tenure.
– The Rangers gave up promising prospects for inconsistent production.
## 5. The Ryan Callahan Trade (2014)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Tampa Bay Lightning
- **Traded for:** Martin St. Louis
Trading Ryan Callahan, a heart-and-soul player for the Rangers, was a difficult decision. While Martin St. Louis provided immediate scoring, Callahan’s leadership and two-way game were sorely missed in the long run, especially as St. Louis’ production waned.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Missing out on Callahan’s leadership and grit.
– Short-term gain overshadowed by long-term loss.
## 6. The Tony Amonte Trade (1994)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Chicago Blackhawks
– **Traded for:** Brian Noonan and a draft pick
Tony Amonte went on to have a successful career in Chicago, while the Rangers received minimal returns. This trade is often cited as a miscalculation in assessing player potential, as Amonte became a consistent scorer and fan favorite with the Blackhawks.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Underestimated Amonte’s potential.
– Resulted in a significant loss of scoring talent.
## 7. The Rick Middleton Trade (1975)
**Trade Details:**
– **Traded to:** Boston Bruins
– **Traded for:** Phil Goyette and cash
Rick Middleton became a star with the Bruins, but at the time, the Rangers failed to recognize his talent. This is one of the more egregious blunders, as Middleton developed into a prolific scorer, contributing significantly to Boston’s success in the late ’70s and ’80s.
### Impact of the Trade:
– Long-lasting impact on the Rangers’ scoring depth.
– Highlighted poor talent evaluation and scouting decisions.
## Evaluating Trade Performance
To better understand the impact of these trades, the following table summarizes key statistics from the players involved:
| Player | Team After Trade | Goals Scored | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Carson | Los Angeles Kings | 373 | 2x All-Star |
| Adam Graves | Detroit Red Wings | 327 | Stanley Cup Champion |
| Pavel Bure | Florida Panthers | 523 | 2x Rocket Richard Trophy Winner |
| Eric Lindros | New York Rangers | 372 | Hart Trophy Winner |
| Ryan Callahan | Tampa Bay Lightning | 187 | Stanley Cup Finalist |
| Tony Amonte | Chicago Blackhawks | 416 | 2x All-Star |
| Rick Middleton | Boston Bruins | 448 | 2x Stanley Cup Champion |
## Lessons Learned from Poor Trades
1. **Value of Young Talent**: The Rangers’ history highlights the importance of retaining promising young players. Many of the trades involved letting go of future stars for short-term gains.
2. **Leadership Matters**: Trades that resulted in losing strong leaders often had long-lasting negative effects on team chemistry and performance.
3. **Scout Effectively**: Accurate talent evaluation is critical. Misjudgments in player potential can lead to significant losses for the franchise.
4. **Long-term Vision**: A clear long-term strategy can prevent the team from making hasty decisions that may seem beneficial in the short term but harm future prospects.
By analyzing the New York Rangers’ less-than-stellar trades throughout the past five decades, fans and analysts can glean valuable insights into the importance of sound decision-making in professional sports. The delicate balance between immediate results and long-term potential remains at the forefront of team management decisions.
