Throughout NHL history there have been disastrous trades and blockbuster trades, but what is rarely talked about is the trades that almost happened. So let's have a look at the Top 10 Blockbuster Trades That Almost Happened.
10-Vancouver's Cory Schneider to Columbus for Gilbert Brule
Back in 2006, Vancouver had just acquired Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers and had an elite goaltending prospect by the name of Cory Schneider coming up. Dave Nonis was Vancouver's GM at the time gave former Columbus GM Doug MacLean a call for a one-for-one. Nonis offered prospect Cory Schneider (drafted 26th overall by Vancouver in 2004) for 2005 6th overall pick Gilbert Brule. MacLean declined the trade and was later fired at the end of the 2006-07 season. Brule was later traded to Edmonton for Raffi Torres, not the same return that they could have landed.
9- Entire 2012 Isles picks to Columbus for Ryan Murray
Back in 2012, the New York Islanders were more than desperate to make a contending team and needed a top defenceman. For Edmonton, drafting a defenceman would have been the right way to go, but they opted to draft Nail Yakupov who didn't quite adapt to the NHL level. But a report came out by the Columbus Dispatch, that former Isles GM Garth Snow offered the organizations' entire draft picks for that year to acquire Ryan Murray. Columbus declined, and the Isles opted to draft Griffin Reinhart 4th overall.
8- Philadelphia's Jeff Carter to Toronto for Tomas Kaberle
This almost-was is the reason why the Philadelphia Flyers are either the winners or the losers when it comes to trades, for them there are no in-betweens. Cliff Fletcher was Toronto's GM at the time and he almost robbed Philadelphia clean, as he offered defenceman Tomas Kaberle for both Jeff Carter and a 1st-round pick. The deal didn't go through due to the fact that Kaberle didn't want to waive his no-movement clause.
7- Philadelphia's Claude Giroux to Tampa Bay for Paul Ranger
Proving my point once again as to why the Flyers are either the losers or the winners when it comes to trades is that back in 2009, when Claude Giroux was making an entrance into the National Hockey League they almost traded him. Paul Holmgren was Philadelphia's GM at the time and offered Tampa a one-for-one trade involving Claude Giroux, an unproven forward for Top-4 defenceman Paul Ranger. Tampa refused as they thought of Giroux as an unproven player as it was his first NHL season at the time.
6- Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos to New York for a package deal
At the beginning of his NHL career, Stamkos had some difficulties scoring just 7 points in his first 21 games. So former Lightning co-owner Len Barrie began shopping the first overall pick due to his difficulties and found a taker, the New York Rangers. The deal involved Tampa choosing three of five players, Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Dubinsky, Evgeny Grachev or Dan Girardi. Rangers GM Glen Sather stated that the deal was so close that he shook hands on it. The deal was shot down by Lightning co-owner Owen Koules and GM Brian Lawton.
5- Anaheim's Corey Perry to Edmonton for Mike Comrie
A lopsided deal by far, Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe and Mike Comrie were in a contract dispute that lasted all the way to December of the 2003-04 season. So Lowe was looking for a trade partner and found one with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks offered 2003 28th overall pick Corey Perry along with another 1st-round pick for Mike Comrie. The deal didn't go through due to the fact that Comrie didn't want to give back his $2.5 million signing bonus and was subsequently dealt to the Flyers for Jeff Woywitka, Rob Schremp and Danny Syvret.
4- Boston's Tyler Seguin to Buffalo for Thomas Vanek
In the summer of 2013, Buffalo Sabres captain Thomas Vanek was entering the final year of his contract and due to the Sabres not being confident that he would re-sign opted to shop around the veteran. With the Bruins being disappointed in Seguin's performance during the season and controversy in the locker room, the Bruins were shopping Seguin. Buffalo found a potential partner with the Bruins that offered straight up a one-for-one trade that would send Vanek to the Bruins for Seguin. There have been various speculations as to why the deal didn't go through, but the most believable one is that Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill came into the picture and stole Seguin from Buffalo for nothing. Either way both trades would have made Boston GM Peter Chiarelli look like an idiot.
3- Massive package to Tampa Bay for Vincent Lecavalier
A trade that could have changed the course of history for both the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. At first, according to Bob Gainey who was the Habs' GM at the time, he was going to offer Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins and Josh Gorges for Lecavalier, but years later, it was revealed that Tampa was going to get a more significant return. The deal involved second-year netminder Carey Price, prospects P.K Subban and Max Pacioretty. There have been mixed reports as to why the deal didn't go through, but some say that Lecavalier wanted to stay in the sunny state of Florida.
2- Montreal's P.K Subban to Philadelphia for Claude Giroux
In the summer of 2014, contract talks between the Montreal Canadiens and P.K Subban started to get ugly real fast. With many options to look at Montreal GM Marc Bergevin tried to see what he could get on the market for his star defenceman. According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers offered their 2015 1st-round pick, top defensive prospect Samuel Morin and a significant roster player not named Claude Giroux. Friedman named either Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds or finally Sean Couturier. The Canadiens not being sure what to do opted to sign the defenceman to an 8-year, $72 million contract.
1- The Great One to Vancouver
Probably the trade that could have helped the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup back in 1994, the Great One could have been traded to the Canucks back in 1988. With the Oilers dynasty falling apart and Edmonton owner Peter Pockington was looking to save his team. He was offered 5-consecutive 1st-round picks, and $22 million for Gretzky at the draft. Then back in 1996, the Canucks signed Gretzky verbally, but due to Vancouver CEO Stan McCammon being too pushy, the Great One backed out of the deal.
Honorable Mentions:
HM 1: Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk to New Jersey for Scott Gomez
Back in 2007, the Devils almost landed the Magic Man. With Datsyuk coming off an amazing 87-point season and Gomez coming off an amazing 84-point season. With Datsyuk on an expiring contract, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello offered an older Scott Gomez for Datsyuk straight up. The deal didn't go through due to Detroit GM Ken Holland opting to sign Datsyuk.
HM 2: Buffalo's Sam Reinhart to Vancouver for Hunter Shinkaruk
A surprising one here is that the Buffalo Sabres almost dealt Sam Reinhart to the Canucks for Hunter Shinkaruk (2013 24th overall pick), 2014 6th overall pick (which turned into Jake Virtanen) and their 2014 24th overall pick (which ultimately turned into Jared McCann). Multiple mixed reports been out, but the most believable one it was Buffalo that backed out due to the fact of not being sure if they really wanted to deal Reinhart.
Some of these trades could have destroyed organizations! What's your thoughts on some of these trades?
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