Throwback Thursday: This week in 1993, Edmonton Oilers trade Craig Simpson to Buffalo Sabres

This week in 1993 (Sept. 1), the Edmonton Oilers traded Craig Simpson to the Buffalo Sabres. In exchange, the Oilers acquired Jazek Cierny and a 1994 fourth-round pick used to draft Jussi Taravinen.

Edmonton had acquired Simpson five years prior in the trade that saw the Oilers trade Paul Coffey and Dave Hunter to the Penguins.

Simpson was great in his six seasons in Edmonton scoring 185 goals and 365 points in 419 games. The year he was acquired was his best in Edmonton, scoring 43 goals and 64 points in 59 games. He totalled 56 goals and 90 points that year including his time in Pittsburgh.

Simpson was a key cog in the Oilers 1988 and 1990 cup wins. In ’88 he scored 13 goals and 19 points in 19 games for the Oilers and in ’90, he had an even better performance. In 22 games he scored 16 goals and 31 points.

His years in Edmonton were the best of his NHL career and was never quite able to replicate his offensive success elsewhere.

In the trade, however, Edmonton did not fare well. Cierny joined the Oilers AHL affiliate in Cape Breton scoring 109 points in 146 games, but he only played one game for the Edmonton Oilers — his lone NHL match.

Taravinen, meanwhile, never left Europe to play in the NHL and thus, never played for the Oilers.

Simpson only played two seasons for the Sabres playing in 46 games scoring 27 points.  On Dec. 1, 1993, he suffered a career-ending back injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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