Trades are the bread and butter of the NHL world, without them things would be pretty stagnant. So with that in mind, we take a look at some of the most successful trades that have taken place in the last ten years.
Some of these trades have turned low performing forwards turning into MVPs and having players that were considering retirement, lifting Stanley Cups. So let’s dive right in and look at our highest ranked trades in recent times.
Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins
In the mid-summer of 2015, a perfect trade that was a huge success for everyone involved went down when Phil Kessel was traded from Toronto Maple Leafs to Pittsburgh Penguins.
Both teams had been performing poorly, with The Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for ten seasons in a row and being without a series win since 2004. Pittsburgh, while making the playoffs, had been sent home in the first round three times in years previous.
By making trades including Kessel, Toronto then managed to net themselves Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington, Nick Spaling and two picks. After one last season with poor performance, they then got a first draft pick that materialised in the shape of Auston Matthews.
Kessel felt at home almost instantly in his new Pittsburgh Penguins kit. Scoring 49 season goals and then another 18 in the playoffs over the next two seasons, making him one of the key reasons that they managed to secure two more Stanley Cups.
Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils
Another controversial trade from the same people that traded away Wayne Gretzky in his prime. The Devils traded Taylor Hall in 2016, in exchange for Adam Larsson, who was previously ranked fourth in the 2011 draft.
The initial reaction from both the public and pundits alike was that the Oilers had been fleeced in this trade. However, to many people’s surprise, Edmonton went on to make the playoffs in 2017 thanks to Larsson’s presence in the games of that season.
On the flip side, the New Jersey Devils would have to wait till the following season when Taylor Hall would go on to capture the MVP award in 2018 with the Devils. Since then Hall has moved around a fair bit, from Arizona, Buffalo and Boston, he’s become somewhat of an NHL journeyman.
Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues
Buffalo took O’Reilly off Colorado Avalanche hands in a package deal with one draft pick. This solid performer with an average score of 20 goals per season ended the 2017 season with a media session claiming he had some issues and had lost his love for the game.
O’Reilly found his ice feet again after being traded to the St. Louis Blues and ended up finding not only his mojo but a Stanley Cup and the Selke Trophy for being the best two-way forward of the league that season.
The left shooting, now 30-year-old, went on to captain the team in the 2020 season and continues to play for the Blues that helped him get rid of his real-life blues.
Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban to the Nashville Predators
In 2016 a trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Nashville Predators ended up with Subban being traded for Shea Weber in a straight swap.
The Norris Trophy winner of 2013 Subban, packed his bags with his 40 assists from the previous three seasons and headed south to Nashville. Subban turned it up a notch or ten at his new team and the Predators went on to make the Stanley Cup final in 2017 with Subban was again being a finalist for the Norris Trophy for his huge contribution.
Weber on the other hand ended up becoming the Canadiens captain and played a total of 22 games to make a run for the cup final in the 2021 season, losing to Tampa. Making this one of the greatest trades for both sides of all time.
Based in California, James William writes about golf, tennis, UFC and the (sometimes complicated) world of betting on sports. A big lover of live poker, James also takes care of casino reviews for Vegas-Odds.com.
