In the NHL, trades are a common transaction for teams to upgrade their organizations or even shed some salary. In most cases, these trades are at or near fair value, but there have also been a number of completely lopsided deals in recent history. Using the past five seasons, we’ll be looking at some of the most one-sided moves and determining who eventually won those specific trades.
Most Lopsided NHL Trades: Part 1
Martin Erat for Filip Forsberg
This trade happened in April of 2013 when Nashville traded long time Predator Martin Erat and Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals in exchange for rookie Filip Forsberg. The Capitals were in need of a playoffs boost and thought that Erat would be the missing piece, so they sent the promising, former eleventh-overall pick in Forsberg to Nashville. In 13 games with the Caps, playoffs included, Erat had a measly 3 points and was unable to make any kind of impact in the Caps’ first-round loss to the New York Rangers. Erat then lasted 53 more games into 2013-14 with Washington before requesting a trade and getting his wish, going to the Arizona Coyotes.
The Predators got rookie Filip Forsberg in this deal. It took two seasons for him to break into the Preds’ lineup, coming for a five-game try out in 2012-13 and a thirteen-game trial in 2013-14. However, neither worked out the way Nashville’s management envisioned. After spending the rest of 2013-14 in the minors, Forsberg cracked the team’s opening night roster this season ready to prove he was ready to play in the NHL. In 32 games, he has as many points. It’s safe to say that the Preds and David Poile have won this trade, and to boot, Erat had 27 points in 62 games with the Capitals. It took Forsberg 34 less games to match that number.
Ben Bishop for Cory Conacher
Bishop had played in 13 games for the Ottawa Senators in 2012-13 going 8-5 as a backup to Craig Anderson but found himself on the trade block near the deadline. Sure enough, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for rookie standout Cory Conacher. Bishop did struggle a bit once arriving in Tampa, but by 2013-14, he was playing like an all-star. The 6-foot-7 American-born is the tallest goalie to ever play in the NHL. He played in 63 games, winning 37, losing 14, and recording a goals-against-average of 2.23 and a save percentage of .924, which was tops in league. His name was frequently thrown around as a Vezina candidate. Unfortunately for Bishop though, his season came to an end due to a shoulder injury just a couple games before the playoffs began and his Bolts lost in four games to the Montreal Canadiens. Bishop is 16-6 with a GAA of 2.35 and a SV% of .913 so far in 2014-15, which is on pace to break his previous career high.
Conacher can be best described as the following: a one hit wonder. The undrafted small forward was picked up for the Bolts farm team and was able to put up big numbers in 2011-12 and again in 12-13, so once the lockout was lifted that year, the Bolts gave Conacher a shot on the team, playing him with Steven Stamkos. Of course, when you play with a superstar, your numbers will inflate. He registered 9 goals and 24 points. Following that success, Steve Yzerman, general manager for Tampa Bay, traded Conacher while his value was high for Bishop. Conacher put up 5 points in the remaining 12 games for the Sens while also notching 3 goals in 8 playoffs games. The next year, Conacher was unable to make any noise, putting up 20 points in 60 games for Ottawa before being placed on waivers. The Buffalo Sabres eventually claimed him and Conacher played 19 games and recorded 6 points. He finished out his contract and was signed by the New York Islanders for the 2014-15 season, but only lasted 15 games notching 3 points before he was waived yet again, this time clearing and now playing in the minors.
Bolts won that one.
Jaroslav Halak for a fourth-round pick
The Washington Capitals acquired Halak from the Buffalo Sabres and played him for 12 games where he went 5-4-3 with a SV% of .930 and a GAA of 2.31. After the Caps failed to make the playoffs and with Halak’s contract expiring soon, they decided to try and get something for him. They found a buyer in the New York Islanders for a fourth-round pick. Once the Isles acquired him, they signed him to a four-year extension and it is paying off so far. Halak has been a huge part of the Isles’ resurgence as a potential playoff team, going 18-6 with a GAA of 2.24 and a SV% of .919 along with three shutouts. He is at the top of league in almost every category.
Daniel Briere for Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau
Briere was signed to a two-year, $8 million deal by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 offseason to bring some secondary scoring and his playoff touch to the Habs. He only managed 13 goals and 25 points in his first season, which was a huge disappointment for paying him $4 million a year. However, he did have a bit better postseason experience, notching 7 points in 16 games for the Habs spectacular run to the Eastern Conference final. After the season ended, the consensus around Montreal was that Briere had deeply underperformed and needed to go. As a result, the 37-year-old was shipped off to the Colorado Avalanche.
P.A. Parenteau had gained some fame for being the playmaking right wing feeding the puck to John Tavares within the New York Islanders’ organization. After two 50-plus point seasons with the Isles, Parenteau was allowed to walk and tested the free agent market. He chose to sign a four-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche, a team that seemed to be on the rise and could use a player like Parenteau. His first season was a productive one for the right winger, who put up 43 points in 48 games, which was a career high in point percentage. But when 2013-14 rolled around, his first season under new bench boss Patrick Roy, Parenteau found himself demoted to the bottom-six, constantly scratched, and rumored to be in Roy’s doghouse. General manager Joe Sakic pulled the trigger on a trade for Briere from Montreal. Sakic also included a 2015 fifth-round draft pick. So far, Montreal seems to be the inevitable winner in this deal with Parenteau having more points, being the younger player with more future upside, and his team being in a better standings position.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @TylerLWOS.
Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Main Photo:
