There have been some horrible, horrible and embarrassing trades by the Toronto Maple Leafs in staff historical past. However in current reminiscence, the primary worst commerce blows all of the others out of the water — or maybe blows the Leafs off the bushes. The whole lot about this deal was unhealthy. They selected the incorrect participant to commerce. The incorrect time to make the commerce. And final however not least, the incorrect staff to commerce with.
To heat you up, listed here are a number of of the worst Leafs trades of all time.
Darryl Sittler
Leafs commerce Sittler to the Flyers for Wealthy Costello, Peter Ihnacak & Ken Robust
In January of 1982, the Leafs traded their captain and greatest participant to the Flyers for just about zilch. Sitter has the second most factors ever in a Leafs’ uniform with 916 — solely Mats Sundin is forward of him with 987. He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1989 after his retirement.
MONTREAL – 1970’s: Darryl Sittler #27 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Picture by Denis Brodeur/NHLI through Getty Photos)
Sitter was cherished by all true Leafs followers for his ardour for the sport. What they bought in return…
Costello performed 12 video games in his NHL profession. Robust, who was a second-round choose within the commerce, performed 15 profession NHL video games. Ihnacak was the one participant they bought which could possibly be deemed ‘respectable’. He scored 28 objectives and 66 factors in his first 12 months within the Blue and White. After that season, he would by no means once more rating 20 objectives or 50 factors. All in all, this was a horrifying commerce for the Leafs, one they might very properly always remember.
Bernie Mother or father
Leafs commerce Mother or father & Larry Goodenough to the Flyers for Bob Neely & Doug Favell
Bernie Mother or father, received two Stanley Cups, two Vezina trophies, and two Conn Smythe awards.
In Might of 1973, the Toronto Maple Leafs made their first brutal commerce with the Philadelphia Flyers. They despatched Bernie Mother or father, who had requested a commerce, to Philadelphia for a few under common gamers. Mother or father was traded after leaving the staff to play within the World Hockey Affiliation.
Nevertheless, it was what Mother or father did after the commerce that individuals will keep in mind. In his first two years with Philadelphia, he received two Stanley Cups, two Vezina Trophies and two Conn Smythe Awards. Primarily, he was the perfect participant in the whole league.
The Leafs obtained Bob Neely, who was a first-round choose however performed simply over 4 seasons in Toronto, posting common numbers as a defenceman. Doug Favell was a backup goalie for the Leafs for simply two seasons earlier than being traded to Colorado together with Neely for money. Simply six years after their final Stanley Cup, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded a man who nearly solely introduced two Cups to Philadelphia himself.
Simply six years after their final Stanley Cup, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded a man who nearly solely introduced two Cups to Philadelphia himself.
Scott Niedermayer
Leafs commerce 1991 1st Spherical Choose to the Devils for Tom Kurvers
In October of 1989, the Leafs traded away their 1991 first-round choose, for Tom Kurvers. Kurvers put up 55 factors in 89 video games with Toronto earlier than being traded away to Vancouver. The Leafs have been then simply straight up unhealthy in 1990-91 and completed second final within the league. Fortunate for them, the San Jose Sharks have been created, which means the Devils would choose third as a substitute of second general with the Leafs’ choose.
Scott Niedermayer developed right into a Corridor of Fame defence man who received at each stage possible.
New Jersey ended up taking Scott Niedermayer, who went on to be a Corridor of Fame defenceman who received a Norris Trophy in 2004 and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2007. — to not point out 4 Stanley Cups. Oh, and he additionally received a World Junior Championship in 1991, a World Cup in 2004 and final however actually not least, an Olympic Gold Medal in 2002 and 2010. He’s now considered the participant who received all the things. Too unhealthy for Toronto, none of it was whereas sporting a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey.
And now, for the worst Leafs commerce within the 21st century. Drumroll, please…
Tuukka Rask
Leafs commerce Tuukka Rask to the Bruins for Andrew Raycroft
Justin Pogge
In June of 2006, John Ferguson Jr. made a commerce that Leafs followers is not going to overlook for a really very long time. He dealt his 2005 first-round choose for the 2003-04 Calder Trophy Winner. His incentive was that he possessed two top-end expertise goaltenders of the long run in Justin Pogge and Tuukka Rask. He merely thought, on the time, Pogge had the higher potential of the 2. Boy oh boy, did he and the Leafs administration get that one incorrect.
Raycroft performed one full season for the Leafs placing up under common numbers. Then, in his second season in Toronto, he performed simply 19 video games earlier than being traded to Colorado. He was downright horrible within the Leafs’ sweater.
Then again, Rask developed properly. He received the Stanley Cup in 2011 and received the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14. He’s cemented himself as one among, if not the perfect goaltender within the NHL every year. He additionally shut the door on the Leafs within the 2013 Playoffs, as Boston got here again from a third-period Four-1 deficit to win in extra time of Recreation 7.
In the meantime, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Justin Pogge went on to play a grand complete of seven profession NHL video games. He moved on to play within the Swedish Hockey League for Farjestad and is now plying his commerce within the KHL.
It’s protected to say, as division rivals, Tuukka Rask will proceed to hang-out the Leafs for a few years to return nonetheless. All Leafs followers can do is think about what it might have been wish to have a Vezina Trophy winner of their crease every evening, and naturally, hate on John Ferguson Jr.
* Written by former THW contributor Devin Slawson and initially printed on Oct. 23, 2014.
