Categories: PenguinPoop

Ten Worst Penguins Trades of All-Time

The other day I posted an article listing the ten best trades in Penguins history. You’ve probably been waiting for the other skate to drop, huh?

Well, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Without further ado, here are the ten worst trades in franchise history according to yours truly.

1. Alek Stojanov (lw) from Vancouver for Markus Naslund (rw), Mar. 20, 1996

Perhaps the most lopsided one-for-one trade in hockey history. A productive power forward in junior hockey, Stojanov proved to be no more than a fourth-line banger whose career was shortened by shoulder injuries and a car accident. Naslund blossomed into a perennial All-Star and team captain in Vancouver while racking up 395 career goals. Although Craig Patrick engineered the trade, an assist (or a raspberry) goes to coach Eddie Johnston, who’d mysteriously soured on Naslund.

2. Kris Beech (c), Ross Lupaschuk (d), Michal Sivek (c) and future considerations from Washington for Jaromir Jagr (rw) and Frantisek Kucera (d), Jul. 11, 2001

Although the context remains murky, near the end of his contract Jaromir Jagr told Patrick he wanted out of Pittsburgh. Operating under strict financial constraints, the Pens’ GM did his best to oblige. However, the three “prospects” he received from the Capitals in return for the five-time scoring champion came up woefully short. Only Beech, a fringe player at best, spent any significant time with the team.

3. Derick Brassard (c), Vincent Dunn (c) and a third-round pick in the 2018 Entry Draft from Ottawa for Ian Cole (d), Filip Gustavsson (g), a first-round pick in the 2018 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2019 Entry Draft, Feb. 23, 2018

Intended to boost the Pens’ chances for a three-peat, the high-profile trade instead backfired mightily. Accustomed to a more prominent role in his previous stops, Brassard balked at third-line duty. The loss of Cole (and heavyweight Ryan Reaves in a related swap) destabilized the third-defensive pairing and stripped away grit and muscle. On a 16-4-1 run prior to the trade, the Pens never regained their momentum and haven’t whiffed the Cup since.

4. Joel Bouchard (d), Rico Fata (rw), Richard Lintner (d) and Mikael Samuelsson (rw) from NY Rangers for Alex Kovalev (rw), Dan LaCouture (lw), Janne Laukkanen (d) and Mike Wilson (d), Feb. 10, 2003

Once more, Patrick dumped a superstar (and his salary) and got next-to-nothing in return. Of the grab-bag collection he received in exchange for Kovalev, only the speedy Fata experienced any success with the black and gold. Bouchard and Lintner were gone by the start of the 2003-04 season. Samuelsson would eventually emerge as a solid player, albeit with Detroit. The silver lining? The big forward was dealt to Florida as part of a package that enabled the Pens to select Marc-Andre Fleury first overall.

5. Ron Meighan (d) and Anders Hakansson (lw) from Minnesota for George Ferguson (rw) and an exchange of first-round picks in the 1983 Entry Draft, Oct. 28, 1982

Hakansson was big and fast, although he possessed flinty hands. Meighan was a highly touted first-rounder who never panned out. The killer was the exchange of first-round picks. As the Pens plummeted to the bottom of the standings, it became apparent that GM Baz Bastien had traded away the first overall pick in the draft. The deal would’ve graded out worse had the Pens not selected feisty role player Bob Errey with their pick and eventually parlayed Hakansson into Kevin Stevens.

6. Ed Olczyk (c) from Los Angeles for Glen Murray (rw), Mar. 18, 1997

Patrick swapped an up-and-comer for a fading former star. While Olczyk was extremely popular with his new teammates, his production waned following the arrival of defense-first coach Kevin Constantine. Murray struggled during his two seasons with the Pens but found new life on the left coast. The big winger would bang home 283 goals after leaving the ‘Burgh.

7. Hartland Monahan (rw) from Washington for first-round pick in the 1979 Amateur Draft, Oct. 17, 1977

This one had the critics scratching their heads. Monahan was a marginal player who’d enjoyed a career year (23 goals) in 1976-77. He’d scored a hat trick against the Pens and had obviously made an impression. However, he wasn’t worth a first-round pick. After watching his prized acquisition play, GM Baz Bastien must’ve agreed. Two weeks later he shipped Monahan to the Kings.

8. Eddie Shack (lw) from Buffalo for Rene Robert (rw), Mar. 4, 1972

At the behest of coach Red Kelly, GM Jack Riley sent promising young forward Rene Robert to Buffalo for Kelly’s old teammate and friend Eddie Shack. While “the Entertainer” helped propel the Pens to a playoff berth in 1971-72 and provided a spark during his season and change in the Steel City, he was nearing the end of the line. Robert would shine as a member of the Sabres’ famed “French Connection Line.”

9. Kevin Hatcher (d) from Dallas for Sergei Zubov (d), Jun. 22, 1996

What looked to be a swap of All-Star defensemen turned out to be a lopsided win for the Stars. Hatcher, fresh off a miserable season in Dallas, scored 45 goals during his three seasons with the Pens. But the big defender had lost all taste for physical play. The wondrously skilled Zubov emerged as an elite defenseman while anchoring a Stanley Cup winner in Dallas.

10. Douglas Murray (d) from San Jose for second-round picks in the 2013 and 2014 Entry Drafts, Mar. 25, 2013

I confess I was happy as a clam when GM Ray Shero acquired the rugged 240-pound rearguard from San Jose, and on my birthday no less. Murray threw some big hits and bested Tampa Bay’s B.J. Crombeen in a spirited slugfest. But for the most part, “Crankshaft” proved to be a largely immobile rental whose tour of duty with the Pens (29 regular- and postseason games) was all-too brief.

Dishonorable Mention

Jason Zucker (lw) from Minnesota for Calen Addison (d), Alex Galchenyuk (c) and a first-round pick in the 2021 Entry Draft, Feb. 10, 2020

Rod Schutt (lw) from Montreal for a first-round choice in the 1981 Entry Draft, Oct. 18, 1978

Dmitri Mironov (d) and a second-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft from Toronto for Larry Murphy (d), Jul. 8, 1995

Rick Buker