Perhaps it was the recent expose of my sorely lacking talent-evaluation chops. My literary rambling appears to have shaken loose some cobwebs from the grey matter region, causing a few nuggets to drop into my brain pan.
A convoluted way of saying I got an idea for an article.
In keeping with the managerial theme, I decided to list the ten best Penguin trades of all-time. Purely subjective, of course, although the ones that led, directly or indirectly, to Stanley Cups received the most weight.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and opinions.
| 1. Paul Coffey (d), Dave Hunter (lw) and Wayne Van Dorp (lw) from Edmonton for Dave Hannan (c), Chris Joseph (d), Moe Mantha (d) and Craig Simpson (lw), Nov. 24, 1987 Penguins fans had much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. The arrival of the swift-skating Coffey at long last gave the Pens a superstar to team with Mario Lemieux, who immediately zoomed to his first scoring title. Although the Pens didn’t transform overnight, the trade trumpeted a turning point in the team’s sorry history and paved the way for the Stanley Cups to come. |
| 2. Ron Francis (c), Grant Jennings (d) and Ulf Samuelsson (d) from Hartford for John Cullen (c), Scott Parker (rw) and Zarley Zalapski (d), Mar. 4, 1991 Known simply as “The Trade” in Penguins lore. The Whaler’s all-time leading scorer at age 27, Francis was a superb two-way center and the perfect complement to Lemieux. Samuelsson and Jennings provided backbone to a defense sorely in need of some. With one bold stroke, GM Craig Patrick had acquired the missing pieces to the Pens’ Stanley Cup puzzle. |
| 3. Rights to Kevin Stevens (lw) from Los Angeles for Anders Hakansson (lw), Sep. 9, 1983 Few trades received less fanfare…and paid greater dividends. When the deal was announced, Stevens was a husky 18-year-kid fresh out of high school. Over a four-season span in the early 1990s, he scored 190 goals while establishing himself as the premier power forward in the NHL. Perhaps GM Eddie Johnston consulted the Psychic Hotline before making the deal. |
| 4. Kjell Samuelsson (d), Rick Tocchet (rw) and Ken Wregget (g) from Philadelphia and third-round pick in the 1993 Entry Draft for Brian Benning (d), Mark Recchi (rw) and a first-round pick in 1992 Entry Draft (acquired from Los Angeles), Feb. 19, 1992 Parting with Recchi (and Coffey in a related trade with the Kings) was tough, but the return provided some desperately needed elements. Blessed with the wingspan of a jumbo jet, Samuelsson made life miserable for opposing forwards. Wregget was a solid 1A goalie who would prove to be worth his weight in gold. But the key to the deal was Tocchet, the rough-hewn warrior winger who willed the Pens to their second Stanley Cup. |
| 5. Tyler Biggs (rw), Tim Erixon (d), Phil Kessel (rw) and a second-round pick in 2016 Entry Draft from Toronto for Scott Harrington (d), Kasperi Kapanen (rw), Nick Spaling (lw) and a first-round pick in 2016 Entry Draft and third-round pick in 2016 Entry Draft, Jul. 1, 2015 Jim Rutherford’s blockbuster acquisition of Kessel added a third superstar to the Penguins forward mix and spelled doom for foes. Pilloried in the Toronto press for everything from his un-svelte physique to his love of hot dogs, Kessel found a home in the Steel City. “The Thrill” and his “HBK” linemates created matchup nightmares for opposing coaches. Kessel paced the Pens with 18 goals during the back-to-back Cup playoff runs. |
| 6. Larry Murphy (d) and Peter Taglianetti (d) from Minnesota for Chris Dahlquist (d) and Jim Johnson (d), Dec. 11, 1990 One of the most overlooked trades in franchise history. Dahlquist and Johnson were diligent, physical players, but they were hardly stars. Perhaps the most undervalued player in the league, Murphy was a skilled, heady defenseman who controlled the flow of the game. As an added bonus the Pens got Taglianetti, a reliable banger. |
| 7. Tom Barrasso (g) and third-round pick in the 1990 Entry Draft from Buffalo for Doug Bodger (d) and Darrin Shannon (lw), Nov. 12, 1988 Tony Esposito’s signature trade. At the time of the deal, the Pens were limping along with a collection of journeymen and unproven kids in goal. Suddenly, the team had a stud between the pipes. Although the price was steep, Barrasso, supremely confident, solidified the club down the middle and was a linchpin on the Stanley Cup champions of the early 1990s. |
| 8. Syl Apps (c) and Sheldon Kannegiesser (d) from NY Rangers for Glen Sather (lw), Jan. 26, 1971 In January of 1971 it seemed an evil spell had been cast on the Penguins. Michel Briere, the team’s brilliant young center, lie in a coma in a Montreal hospital. The NHL had assumed control of the franchise from owner Donald Parsons. As if to dispel the gloom, GM Jack Riley stepped forward with his finest trade. Apps would become the scoring star Briere had projected to be. |
| 9. John Arbour (d) and Jean Pronovost (rw) from Boston for a first-round pick in 1969 Amateur Draft and cash, May 21, 1968 Desperate for talent, the Penguins traded away a slew of first-round picks during the early years, with dubious results. However, this was a notable and shining exception. A hard-nosed defenseman, Arbour skated in only 17 games for the then blue-and-white. But Pronovost was a gem, an industrious two-way player with a huge upside. As a member of the famed “Century Line,” he became the first Penguin to score 50 goals in a season. “Prony” potted 40 goals or better on three other occasions. |
| 10. Randy Caryle (d) and George Ferguson (rw) from Toronto for Dave Burrows (d), Jun. 14, 1978 GM Baz Bastien made his share of clunkers, but this trade was solid gold. He dealt Burrows, an All-Star, to Toronto for Ferguson and a kid defenseman named Randy Carlyle. A versatile forward, the “Fergy Flyer” would score 20+ goals in each of his four seasons in the ‘Burgh. But Carlyle was something special. In 1980-81 he won the Norris Trophy. |
| Honorable Mention Chris Kunitz (lw) and Eric Tangradi (lw) from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney (d), Feb. 26, 2009 Joe Mullen (rw) from Calgary for second-round pick in the 1990 Entry Draft, Jun. 16, 1990 Dave Burrows (d) and Paul Gardner (c) from Toronto for Kim Davis (c) and Paul Marshall (lw), Nov. 18, 1980 Alex Kovalev (rw) and Harry York (c) from NY Rangers for Petr Nedved (c), Sean Pronger (c) and Chris Tamer (d), Nov. 25, 1998 |
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Hey Rick, Great job.
Your memory for all things Penguins continues to amaze me.
As a Pen's fan living a far I really appreciate these trips down memory lane and reminds me of all the great players who have worn a Pens Jersey at one time in the past. Thank you so much.
I have just one Question.I know Bryan Trottier won 2 more Cups playing for the Pens in 1990-91.??
My question is who did the Pens trade to get him or how did he become a Penguin?
We all talk about how great Mario was and how great Crosby is ,but Trotts playing in his prime winning 4 cups, many said he was the best 2 way center in the league at that time, even though a man named Gretzky was putting up all those points.
Cheers
JIM
Thank you for the kind words, my friend. I confess...this didn't all come from memory...I had to do a bit of research. But I remember some of these trades like it was yesterday. Where does the time go?
You mentioned Bryan Trottier. I agree, he was a very key component on our 1990s Cup teams, providing leadership and stability. Although he filled primarily a supporting role and was well past his prime, Trots could still put up numbers when called upon. In late January-early February of 1992, Mario was out of the lineup (perhaps Francis too) and Jaromir Jagr had been suspended for bumping a referee (I think Ron Hoggarth). So Scotty Bowman elevated Trottier to the top line between Stevens and Recchi and the old pro promptly went on a tear, racking up four goals and 11 points in five games.
I always thought Trottier would've made a good coach. But his one stint as the head man with the Rangers in 2002-03, not the easiest team to coach, didn't go well, and he never got another opportunity.
Back to your question. We signed Trottier as a free agent in the summer of 1990 after the Islanders released him.
Rick