Worst Trades in Red Wings History & 2 of the Cheapest Trades Ever
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", revisiting the Oilers' disastrous 1990 Draft, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a few “Today in Hockey History” posts, two of the cheapest trades of all time, the worst trades in Detroit Red Wings history, revisiting the Edmonton Oilers’ disastrous 1990 Draft, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: Dec. 18
The Montreal Canadiens are the most storied and successful franchise in the history of the National Hockey League. Some of their biggest legends had memorable games on this date. Also, throwing your hat onto the ice has been a common occurrence on Dec. 18. So, bring your best throwing hat and jump on board our daily hockey time machine.
2 of the Cheapest NHL Trades Ever
In hockey, we’ve long discussed trades over the years. From the day Wayne Gretzky was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to more recent deals like the Alexei Yashin trade from the Senators or the Phil Kessel deal that sent him to Toronto or Pittsburgh, it’s a never-ending look into the trade itself.
But what if I told you that there were two trades, in particular, that cost teams less than what it costs nowadays for a chocolate bar? Yes, that’s right. Forget about the first $1-million man in hockey, let’s talk about two one-dollar players that went on to have successful NHL careers.
Worst Trades in Red Wings History
As the Detroit Red Wings continue to rebuild, thoughts of missed opportunities, unnecessarily long contracts, and poor trades often come to mind. And with former general manager Ken Holland leading the charge, many had an uneasy feeling about the future.
If you were concerned about Holland’s ability to execute the franchise-improving swaps, don’t fret. There have been some ugly trades in Red Wings history and Holland was only responsible for one of them. Let’s take a look at the worst trades of the past 90 years and hope today’s Red Wings don’t join the list.
Today in Hockey History: Dec. 17
This date in National Hockey League history was dominated by some guy in Edmonton who wore No. 99. Also, there were plenty of memories back in the day of black and white highlight reels. Dec. 17 was also a good day for offensive defensemen and taking a penalty shot. Hop into our daily time machine and buckle up for another trip through the decades.
Revisiting the Edmonton Oilers’ Disastrous 1990 Draft
In June 1990, the Edmonton Oilers were on top of the world. They had just won their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years, after beating the Boston Bruins 4-1 in the best-of-seven championship series. Goaltender Bill Ranford received the Conn Smythe Trophy, and captain Mark Messier was presented with the Hart Memorial Trophy.
Life was good, maybe a little too good, because in the midst of all their celebrating, the Oilers apparently forgot about the NHL Entry Draft. How else to explain what happened at B.C. Place in Vancouver on June 16, 1990, when Edmonton general manager Glen Sather selected 11 players, from Scott Allison at No. 17 to Sami Nuttinen at No. 248, none of whom played a single NHL game.
Today in Hockey History: Dec. 16
There is little doubt that the city of Montreal is responsible for some of the biggest moments and greatest players in National Hockey League history. They had three of their numerous legends play their first NHL game on this date, two of them in the same contest. This was also a very memorable date in Chicago and the capitals of both NHL countries. Let’s begin our daily trip through time and look back at the most significant moments from Dec. 16.
The Bizarre Naming History of TD Garden
TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins, has only been open for a few decades. But in that time, it’s seen countless unforgettable moments. Playing host to the Bruins, Celtics, the Beanpot, Hockey East championships, figure skating, concerts, professional wrestling, and even box lacrosse has given plenty of people a great memory at TD Garden. In fact, over 30 million people have stepped foot in the arena over the last 20-plus years.
In Boston, sports and history are intertwined. Each of the major teams in the city has a storied legacy, as does Boston’s most famous sporting grounds – Fenway Park. But Fenway isn’t the only stadium with a history worth telling. In fact, TD Garden has a rather bizarre history, particularly with regards to the 33 – yes, 33 different names it has had throughout its 27-year existence.