THE BEST OF TIMES, THE WORST OF TIMES
By Lowetide
9 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers have been busy at the trade deadline over the years and have a legendary trail of ‘bad and good’ deals stretching back over 30 years. Do you remember these?
BIGGEST DEADLINE DEALS BY DECADE
THE 1980’S
- March 8, 1988– Oilers trade G Andy Moog to Boston for G Bill Ranford, L Geoff Courtnall and Boston’s 2nd rd pick in 1988. The trade didn’t pay off initially, as the Oilers rode Grant Fuhr and their plethora of impact players to another Stanley that spring. Ranford would pay off in a big way spring 1990, backstopping most of the Glory Oilers and a few kids to No. 5 Stanley. What a sweet ride. The Oilers are honoring the big man today:
THE 1990’S
- March 17, 1993- Oilers trade L Esa Tikkanen to New York Rangers for C Doug Weight. By the time Esa left town, Oilers fans were numb to dealing away legends but it hurt all the same. We didn’t know Dougie Weight well when the trade was made but a decade of stunning passes and several brilliant playoff wins made him unforgettable. Weight arrived at a time when the Oilers needed a miracle and helped provide one.
THE 2000’S (A TIE)
- March 8, 2006– Oilers trade 2006 1st rd pick and 2007 3rd rd pick to Minnesota Wild for G Dwayne Roloson. A case of perfect fit, perfect timing. Roloson was the final piece in a terrific machine that dragged us along like a dream in the spring and summer of 2006. I’ve seen all seven Stanley Cup finals involving Edmonton and wouldn’t trade away a single one. In a very real way, I love that 2006 team the most, probably because the intense joy and pain are still with us most of a decade later. We’ll never forget them, what a team.
- February 27, 2007: Oilers trade L Ryan Smyth to NY Islanders for C Ryan O’Marra, L Robert Nilsson and their 2007 1st rd pick. The trade was surrounded by frustration, tears and a peculiar willingness to deal with every player not named Ryan Smyth in the months after the SCF final. The result? Wandering in the wilderness since and a period that must be considered the darkest in team history.
THE 2010’S
- February 28, 2011: Oilers trade L Dustin Penner to Los Angeles Kings for D Colten Teubert and a 2011 1st rd pick. Exactly four years after forcing the Oilers into a downturn by sending away experience for youth, the Oilers do it again! The pick turned into Oscar Klefbom who is just now arriving on the scene. The David Perron trade earlier this season is the third time since 2007 Edmonton has sent away a significant winger in exchange for picks and future.
This deadline still has some story but the past is filled with good and bad memories. We haven’t had many of these go our way in the last 10 years and precious few involve adding actual NHL players. The Edmonton Oilers need to add experienced men like David Perron and Jeff Petry but are instead sending them away.
When we visit this list at the end of the decade, how many deadlines will involve adding players for a playoff run? Let’s hope for one and go from there.
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