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NHL Trade Deadline: Ranking every team’s worst ever trade

By David Rouben

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 3: Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings in action against the Edmonton Oilers at the Arco Arena on April 3, 1994 in Sacramento, California. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 3: Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings in action against the Edmonton Oilers at the Arco Arena on April 3, 1994 in Sacramento, California. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JUNE 7: Dave Andreychuk
TAMPA, FL – JUNE 7: Dave Andreychuk /

22: Buffalo Sabres

Dave Andreychuk was one of the best, and most loyal teammates the Sabres could ever ask for, having been a franchise cornerstone for 11 seasons. It’s a wonder why they ever decided to trade him, although his decline in production – going from 95 to 61 points in one season – possibly had something to do with it.

They did well to get Grant Fuhr out of him, who helped become a mentor to Dominik Hasek, but that’s all he was — a backup goalie. And while Andreychuk didn’t spend a lot of time in Toronto, he still became a fan favorite. He had his best ever season there in terms of production – 58 goals and 109 points in 1993-94 – and led the Leafs to back-to-back Conference Finals appearances.

Once he moved to Tampa Bay, he helped turn their fortunes around and was the captain of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2004. Lightning fans still revere him to this day, with a statue of him outside of the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

That the Leafs would go on to draft Kenny Jonsson with the first-round pick included in the deal is further proof that trading first-round picks is always risky. There’s no telling how high that pick will be, and who would’ve been chosen. Kenny Jonsson was regarded as one of the best puck-moving defensemen and had great offensive skill as well. When Sweden won Olympic Gold in 2006, he was voted the best defenseman of the tournament.

The Leafs messed up when they would later trade Jonsson to the Islanders to get Wendel Clark back, but they can take solace in the fact that they’re not the only ones who regretted dealing him away.

Next: 21: Arizona Coyotes (Winnipeg Jets)

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