When the title Eric Lindros is talked about, most individuals keep in mind the dynamic winger who tormented the league as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Some others will say his commerce is presumably the one time in NHL historical past the place a crew has moved away from a star participant and maybe been higher for it. Many individuals have revisited the Lindros commerce, however only a few have seen the way it affected each organizations for the foreseeable future. This can be a monster deal that modified the form of the league endlessly. That is the Eric Lindros commerce tree.
Lindros Earlier than the Draft
To start with, barely after man created fireplace, a younger child was within the ranks of the Oshawa Generals. At 6-foot-4, 230 kilos, Lindros had the scale to run by individuals. Sadly for youths within the Ontario Hockey League then, the world was about to find that Lindros was not a one-trick pony. In his first season with the Generals, he had 17 targets and 19 assists for 36 factors in 25 video games. That’s not unhealthy. However after that, he went nuts. In his draft 12 months of 1990-91, he performed 57 video games and recorded 71 targets and 78 assists for 149 factors, the 14th-highest level whole in an OHL season ever.
Associated: Eric Lindros: A Participant Who Modified Hockey Each On and Off The Ice
Lindros grew to become the clear favourite for the primary total choose with this explosion. If you’re sufficiently old to recollect this season within the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded that 12 months’s first-round choose. They had been desperately attempting to choose up anti-tanking measures from the Quebec Nordiques to make sure they didn’t give Eric Lindros to the New Jersey Devils. With this, the Nordiques secured the primary total choose, and they might get to draft Eric Lindros. The whole lot seemed appropriate for the Nordiques. But when solely issues had been ever that straightforward.
Lindros refused to signal his contract with the Nordiques. On the time, nobody knew why, so followers assumed it was due to the language, metropolis, or tradition. It was later revealed throughout an interview Lindros did with Sportsnet that his subject was not with the group however with the Nordiques proprietor Marcel Aubut. Not realizing this on the time, Lindros was labeled as a child, and Nordiques followers began to put on diapers to video games mocking Lindros’ choice. Quebec’s common supervisor on the time, Pierre Web page, was unwavering in his calls for to maneuver Lindros, so he stayed on the Nordiques reserve record till the Flyers got here calling.
Lindros’ Commerce to Philadelphia
On June 30, 1992, we had a commerce to shock the hockey world. The Nordiques acquired Steve Duchesne, Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, a 1993 1st-round choose, a 1994 1st-round choose, and $15 million in money in alternate for Lindros. You’re not studying this unsuitable. There have been eight items and $15 million moved for Lindros. That is nonetheless one of many largest offers the league has seen greater than 32 years later.
Let’s begin with the Flyers’ facet as a result of we must discuss in regards to the Nordiques for some time. Lindros was all the pieces he was constructed as much as be as a member of the Broadstreet Bullies. Throughout his rookie season, he got here fourth in Calder voting. This was the 12 months Teemu Selanne had 76 targets as a rookie, so he was by no means more likely to win it. His 41 targets and 34 assists in 61 video games earned him a spot on the all-rookie crew that 12 months. He adopted that up with a 44-goal and 53-assist efficiency the next season in 65 video games. He didn’t win something that 12 months, so he put the world on discover the season after.
Legion of Doom
Lindros was united with John LeClair and Mikael Renberg throughout this season. This line nearly immediately began dominating bodily and offensively, incomes them the nickname “Legion of Doom.” All three guys stood 6-foot2 or taller and weighed greater than 230 kilos. Lindros had 29 targets and 41 assists for 70 factors in a lockout-shortened season in 1994-95. This gained him the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Lester B. Pearson as league MVP voted by the gamers.
Associated: Remembering Mikael Renberg on the Legion of Doom
In 1995-96, Lindros went insane, having the very best 12 months of his profession. He took the league by storm with 47 targets and 68 assists for 115 factors in 73 video games in the course of the peak of the useless puck period when scoring was unattainable. This season would see him come third in Hart voting and twentieth in Selke voting for the very best defensive ahead.
One factor you’ll shortly discover when taking a look at Lindros’ stats is that he might by no means play a complete season. Accidents plagued him, they usually received worse over time. After his remaining season with the Flyers in 1999-00, he missed the whole lot of the 2000-01 season due to damage. His remaining totals as a Flyer had been 290 targets and 369 assists for 659 factors in 486 video games in the course of the useless puck period.
Lindros got here again within the new millennium. Nonetheless, he was by no means capable of return to being Lindros and retired after the 2006-07 season after recording 372 profession targets and 493 profession assists for 865 profession factors in 760 profession video games. He was voted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2016 and, in 2017, was named one of many 100 best gamers ever.
Nordiques Begin to Construct a Dynasty
To refresh, Quebec received Duchesne, Forsberg, Hextall, Huffman, Ricci, Simon, a 1993 1st-round choose, a 1994 1st-round choose, and $15 million in money. Money in offers like that is now towards the collective bargaining settlement, however that cash on high of eight belongings ought to present you ways extremely the Nordiques considered Lindros. As for the remainder, the place can we begin?
I assume let’s begin with Huffman as a result of this one is easy. He performed in 80 video games as a member of the Nordiques and recorded 4 targets and 24 assists for 28 factors. The Ottawa Senators claimed him off waivers in the course of the 1993-94 season. He had a pleasant profession, however the bulk of it was away from this group, which means he’s not wanted for the way forward for this commerce tree.
The Hockey Corridor of Famer
Forsberg was the one different participant concerned on the Nordiques facet that didn’t get dealt, so that is the follow-up. Peter Forsberg walked into the league as a younger star, and his 1994-95 rookie season proves it. In 47 video games, he had 15 targets and 35 assists for 50 factors. This was sufficient to win the Calder Trophy because the league’s greatest rookie. He was additionally named to the all-rookie crew.
Associated: Peter “Foppa” Forsberg: A Biography
In 1995-96, Forsberg was now not a member of the Nordiques crew as a result of the group relocated. Now in Denver, the Colorado Avalanche had their younger star explode for 30 targets and 86 assists for 116 factors. This was one thing he did quite a bit. Throughout his time as a member of the Avs, Forsberg additionally captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Artwork Ross because the league’s high level producer in 2002-03 with 29 targets and 77 assists for 106 factors. Throughout 9 years with the franchise, he performed in 580 video games, recording 216 targets and 525 assists for 741 factors.
When he left Colorado in the course of the lockout misplaced season in 2005-06, he joined the Flyers. He performed 100 video games as a Flyer and even had 30 targets and 85 assists for 115 factors earlier than he received traded to Nashville. In 17 video games with the Predators, he had two targets and 13 assists for 15 factors. He tried to rejoin the Avalanche, however accidents had began to destroy his profession. Forsberg went again to Europe for just a few years till 2010-11, when he had a two-game comeback, however by that time, he was finished. His iconic quantity 21 is one in every of six to hold from the roof of Ball Enviornment in Denver.
Colorado Provides Patrick Roy
The Nordiques used the 1993 first-rounder they received again from the Flyers draft Jocelyn Thibault. A great goalie in his personal proper, Thibault had a .897 save proportion and a 2.96 goals-against common throughout his three years with the Avalanche and the Nordiques. It was in 1996 that the Avs determined goaltending was an issue, they usually wished to deal with it with one other star so as to add to the gathering. There simply so occurred to be an sad netminder in Montreal.
After famously not getting pulled after giving up seven targets in a nine-goal explosion by the Detroit Purple Wings, Patrick Roy demanded a commerce on his approach off the ice. With the Avalanche all too keen to mess with their former provincial rivals and desirous to make a splash with their first season within the Rocky Mountains, the Avalanche dealt Andrei Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault to Montreal in alternate for Mike Keane and goaltender Patrick Roy. Roy’s quantity hangs alongside Forsberg’s in Ball Enviornment after his eight years in Denver.
I shouldn’t have to let you know how good Roy was, however he had a .918 save proportion and a 2.27 goals-against common throughout his 478-game profession in Colorado. He’d win the Conn Smythe in 2001 and the William M Jennings for lowest targets towards in 2002. Keane had 4 years in Colorado, recording 223 profession video games, scoring 27 targets and 37 assists for 64 factors. Through the useless puck period, it’s not a foul whole.
Chris Simon’s Department
Chris Simon is the place we are going to go subsequent. He spent 4 years within the Nordiques group and even traveled throughout the continent with them after they relocated to Colorado. Whereas he was not one of many large cores that Colorado constructed a dynasty on, he nonetheless added 24 targets and 32 assists for 56 factors in 146 video games. Simon was dealt after the Avalanche gained the 1996 Stanley Cup of their first season in Colorado. He was packaged with Curtis Leschyshyn and despatched to the Washington Capitals in alternate for Keith Jones, A 1998 1st-round choose, and a 1998 4th-round choose.
Jones spent three years in Colorado, tallying 28 targets and 29 assists for 57 factors in 102 video games earlier than getting traded. Colorado received Shjon Podein from the Flyers in alternate for Jones. Podein spent 4 years in Colorado, scoring 34 targets and 37 assists in 239 video games. He even gained the King Clancey Memorial Trophy, awarded to the participant who exhibits management on the ice and away from the rink, normally with charitable donations or humanitarian efforts. Podein would get traded to the Blues in alternate for Mike Keane. Sure, the identical Mike Keane that received moved alongside Patrick Roy. This was six years after that deal, although. As soon as once more, he’d depart in free company.
The 1998 first they received would get traded with one other 1998 fourth and a 1998 fifth to maneuver up into the third spherical of the 1998 NHL draft. They used that to pick out Evgeny Lazarev, who by no means received traded. That 1998 first they received with Jones grew to become Scott Parker. He performed in 237 video games for the Avalanche, scoring 5 targets and getting 11 assists for 16 factors earlier than he received dealt to the San Jose Sharks for 2003 fifth that grew to become Brad Richardson. Richardson performed in 136 video games with the Avalanche, scoring 19 targets and 21 assists for 40 factors. He was dealt to the Kings for a 2008 second-round choose. That was used on Peter Delmas, who by no means developed however by no means received traded.
Mike Ricci’s Department
We’re nearly midway by this commerce tree and transfer on to Mike Ricci. Ricci performed in elements of six seasons with the Nordiques group. In 339 video games with the group, he had 91 targets and 137 assists for 228 factors. He was traded to the Sharks alongside a 1998 second-round choose that grew to become Jaroslav Kristek for Shean Donovan and a 1998 first-round choose. That choose? Alex Tanguay. Donovan by no means received dealt regardless of enjoying 133 video games for the Avalanche, scoring 13 targets and 19 assists for 31 factors.
Tanguay was a long-time servant of the Avalanche and had two totally different stints with the hockey membership. Throughout his 9 years enjoying with the crew, he appeared in 598 video games and grabbed 167 targets and 321 assists for 488 factors. He was a monster for the Avalanche, successful the Cup in 2001. If you would like a enjoyable Tanguay truth, he was traded away from the Avalanche twice and dealt to the Calgary Flames each occasions. The primary time is the one factor we’re taken with right here, because the return was Jordan Leopold, a 2006 second-round choose, and a 2007 conditional second-round choose. These picks would get used on Codey Burki and Trevor Cann, respectively, however neither labored out or was traded.
This leaves us to comply with the Leopold path. He spent three years in Colorado, enjoying in 122 video games and netting 13 targets and 25 assists for 38 factors. He’d get traded again to Calgary for Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson, and a 2009 second-round choose. That choose would get used on Stefan Elliott. Nycholat performed in 5 video games with the Avalanche, with no manufacturing, and he wouldn’t get traded. Ryan Wilson performed six years for the Avalanche in 230 video games, scoring seven targets and 60 assists for 67 factors. He was not dealt, both. Elliott performed 4 seasons with the Avalanche, scoring six targets and 12 assists for 18 factors. He’d get traded for Brandon Gormley from the Coyotes. Gormley performed in 26 video games with the Avs and had one help.
Ron Hextall’s Department
We have now to return to 1993 to make progress on this deal. Hextall performed 54 video games for the group, posting a .888 save proportion and a 3.45 goals-against common earlier than getting dealt alongside a 1993 first-round choose to the New York Islanders in alternate for a 1993 first-round choose and Mark Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick left in free company to Florida, however the first-round choose swap is all the time fascinating. With the 1993 choose that the Nordiques gave up, it was used to pick out Todd Bertuzzi. As for the first-round choose the Nordiques received again, they used it to make the 14th total choice in 1993. That was Adam Deadmarsh.
Deadmarsh’s NHL flame didn’t burn lengthy, however it did burn shiny. In 453 video games with the Nordiques and Avalanche, he scored 138 targets and 150 assists for 288 factors. When accidents began to point out indicators of plaguing Deadmarsh, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. The deal was Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, a 2001 first that grew to become David Steckel, 2003 first that grew to become Brian Boyle, and a participant to be named later that turned out to be Jared Aulin to the Los Angeles Kings for Steven Reinprecht and Rob Blake.
Let’s begin with Blake. He was introduced in as a rental for the Stanley Cup Playoffs within the hope that he would get the Avalanche excessive. Blake is one more member of the Hockey Corridor of Fame on this tree, and he would get his ring in Colorado in 2001. He would keep within the Mile Excessive Metropolis for 5 years, enjoying in 322 video games and scoring 62 targets and 146 assists. For a right-shot defenseman, this was an unbelievable tenure. He would depart in free company, so Blake’s half is over.
On to Reinprecht, who would play in 165 video games for the Avalanche, recording 40 targets and 64 assists for 104 factors. He’d get dealt to the Buffalo Sabres alongside Rhett Warrener for Keith Ballard. Ballard would get flipped alongside Derek Morris to the Arizona Coyotes for Chris Gratton, Ossi Vaananen, and a 2005 second-round choose that grew to become Paul Stastny. Gratton performed 13 video games with the Avalanche, recording two targets and an help for 3 factors. Vaananen performed in 139 video games, scoring two targets and grabbing ten assists for 12 factors. Neither he nor Gratton would get traded.
Paul Stastny, nonetheless, oh boy. Following within the footsteps of his father, Peter, and enjoying for this group, Stastny performed for the Avalanche for eight years. He was in 538 NHL video games, scoring 160 targets and 298 assists for 458 factors. Stastny leaving in free company will probably be within the dwelling reminiscence of most readers at this level. He’s an unrestricted free agent after enjoying with the Carolina Hurricanes final season.
Steve Duchesne Department
We’ve received simply two belongings left from the unique deal to comply with down the trail, they usually shortly change into linked: Duchesne and the 1994 first-round choose that the Flyers included for Lindros. Duschene performed one 82-game season with the Nordiques, scoring 20 targets and 62 assists for an ideal level per recreation 12 months earlier than the group determined they needed to transfer him to the Blues. Duchesne would get packaged alongside Denis Chasse in alternate for Bob Bassen, Garth Butcher, and Ron Sutter. Bassen performed 84 video games for the group, tallying a reasonably satisfying 23 targets and 23 assists for 46 factors. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t get traded, so we are able to transfer into the opposite two.
Sutter performed 37 video games as a Nordique, scoring 9 targets and grabbing 13 assists for 22 factors. He was packaged alongside the 1994 ninth total choose and despatched to the Islanders for Uwe Krupp and the 1994 twelfth total choose. The ninth total choose would flip into Brett Lindros, Eric’s youthful brother. With the twelfth total choose, the Nordiques chosen Wade Belak. Krupp performed 188 video games as a member of the Nordiques and Avalanche, scoring 19 targets and 59 assists. Maybe crucial factor he did in his profession was rating the Stanley Cup-winning aim in 1996 in triple additional time to finish the sweep of the Florida Panthers. Krupp was not traded, so this department ends, however we’ve an entire Wade Belak to debate.
Belak might by no means breakthrough with the Avs, scoring only one aim and one help throughout his 35-game tenure. He’d get packaged with Rene Corbet, a 2000 second-round choose used to pick out Jarret Stoll, and future issues in alternate for Chris Dingman and Theoren Fleury. Theo Fleury was introduced in as a playoff rental, however it’s price noting he had ten targets and 14 assists for twenty-four factors in 15 common season video games. He left after the 12 months in free company.
As for Dingman, he performed three years with the Avalanche, scoring 9 targets and 4 assists for 13 factors in 110 NHL video games. He’d get flipped to the Hurricanes for a 2001 fifth-round choose that grew to become Mikko Viitanen, who by no means performed within the NHL. I wish to emphasize right here the long run issues on this deal weren’t nothing, however we are going to get again to this.
1994 1st Department
For those who discover, I didn’t contact on Garth Butcher when he was acquired within the Duchesne deal. That’s as a result of he was dealt out of city with the 1993 first-round choose the Nordiques received from the Flyers. Butcher performed 34 video games with the Nordiques, scoring three targets and 9 assists for 12 factors earlier than getting despatched out of city alongside the choose used on Nolan Baumgartner, in addition to Mats Sundin and Todd Warriner for a 1994 first-round choose used on Jeff Kealty, Landon Wilson, Sylvain Lefebvre, and Wendel Clark.
Let’s begin with Landon Wilson as a result of that enables us to tie up the remaining unfastened ends. Wilson spent elements of two seasons in Colorado, enjoying in 16 video games, scoring two targets and two assists for 4 factors earlier than getting flipped to the Boston Bruins. He was full of Anders Myrvold and despatched to the Bruins for a 1998 first-round choose used to pick out Robyn Regehr. For those who’re studying this like, “Robyn Regehr wasn’t an Av,” you’re proper. Regehr was a part of the Theo Fleury commerce with Calgary sooner or later issues half. He was by no means a member of the Avalanche.
Lefebvre was by no means traded after the Sundin deal, however he did play in 5 seasons with the Nordiques and Avalanche. He was on the 1996 Stanley Cup-winning roster, scoring 11 targets and 61 assists for 72 factors in 351 NHL video games. Kealty not received dealt, which means we’ve received simply Wendel Clark to comply with on with. Clark performed only one season with the Nordiques and didn’t comply with the crew to Colorado. He performed in 37 video games with the Nordiques, scoring 12 targets and 18 assists for 30 factors. He was then despatched to the New York Islanders in a part of a three-team deal that noticed the Avalanche get again the 1995 Conn Smythe winner. That man? Claude Lemieux.
Lemieux did two issues effectively in his profession. Rating and struggle. He performed 297 NHL video games in Colorado, placing up 106 targets and 106 assists for 212 factors. He gained the cup in 1996 with the Avalanche earlier than beginning an ever-lasting rivalry with one silly choice. A success from behind on Kris Draper sparked the hatred that the Avalanche and Purple Wings had for years, and it lit a fireplace beneath the Purple Wings crew that had been underperforming within the early to mid-Nineties.
“And After 22 Years”
There are simply two extra trades to cowl. Lemieux went again to the Devils with a 2000 second-round choose and a swap of first-round picks in alternate for Brian Rolston. The second-round choose would get used on Matt DeMarchi, and the first-round choose the Devils received became David Hale. As for the choose the Avalanche received, they used it on Martin Samuelsson however not by them. Rolston performed in 50 video games as a member of the Avalanche, scoring eight targets and ten assists for 18 factors. Nevertheless, the 2000 NHL deadline noticed the Avalanche a bit away from successful the Cup within the eyes of many, so the ultimate department of this commerce tree was as follows.
Colorado packaged the primary from New Jersey, Rolston, Martin Grenier, and Samuel Pahlsson to the Boston Bruins in alternate for Dave Andreychuk and Ray Bourque. It was solely becoming that the ultimate commerce of this tree sees the Avalanche add two extra Hockey Corridor of Famers. Andreychuk had only a few months in Colorado, enjoying in 14 video games, scoring one aim and two assists. That was underwhelming, however it was the twilight of Andreychuk’s profession, and that’s justifiable.
Ray Bourque’s story, alternatively, is a fairytale. Bourque spent 20 years as a Boston Bruin, successful the Calder as a rookie with 65 factors in 1979-80 and successful the Norris Trophy 3 times in 4 years on the finish of the Nineteen Eighties and into the early Nineties. He was dominant. Nevertheless, that Stanley Cup eluded Bourque all through his profession. Making an attempt to stroll within the footsteps of Bobby Orr earlier than him, Bourque by no means had the posh. So in 2000, the Bruins are tearing it down, and Bourque asks for a commerce to try to win the Cup. In 2000, the Avalanche got here quick because the Devils gained the Cup.
2000-01 can be Bourque’s remaining season. Would he be capable to depart the NHL on high of the world? In 94 video games as an Avalanche, Bourque had 15 targets and 58 assists for 73 factors. A classic Bourque efficiency within the remaining season of his profession. As time ticked down on one of many careers of one of many best defensemen to ever placed on a pair of skates, the Avalanche went deeper and deeper into the postseason. His desires got here true in Sport 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finale. On June 9, 2001, he gained the Stanley Cup. His quantity additionally hangs within the rafters of Ball Enviornment.
The Lindros Commerce Tree General
There are such a lot of layers to this deal. Whether or not it’s the variety of Hockey Corridor of Famers this deal introduced by the group, the Flyers getting among the best gamers their franchise has ever seen, or how this deal cemented the success the Avalanche had in Colorado within the earliest a part of their tenure. Profitable the Stanley Cup in 1996 throughout their first season within the Rocky Mountains primarily occurred due to this commerce. Profitable it once more 5 years later may also be attributed to this commerce tree.
Lindros himself was one of many best gamers of the Nineties. Dominating the league and thriving in Philadelphia, he was all the pieces the Flyers might have requested for. As I mentioned proper again in the beginning of this, this is likely one of the few trades in NHL historical past the place the star participant dealt didn’t outweigh the return. Whether or not you wish to see the star energy within the unique commerce or the items that seem on this tree that allowed the Avalanche’s dominance after the relocation, this is likely one of the most enjoyable commerce bushes.
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