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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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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 1: Ron Francis
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 1: Ron Francis /

20: Carolina Hurricanes (Hartford Whalers)

Speaking of trades that ruined franchises, here’s a perfect example of one. Is this cheating because it’s a move by the Whales instead of the Hurricanes? Maybe, but it’s still pretty fitting given that it involves Carolina’s current general manager.

Had the team not moved franchise players in Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson, there might still be a Hartford Whalers today. As soon as the two moved to Pittsburgh, they won a Cup. And sure, a lot of that had to do with Mario Lemieux, but when he was injured during the playoffs, Francis stepped up and scored 27 points in 21 games – including the Cup-winning goal – to lead the Penguins to a repeat championship.

Ulf Samuelsson wasn’t as productive, but he still formed a formidable defensive core with Larry Murphy and Paul Coffey. Unfortunately, his legacy is tarnished because Bruins fans will forever attribute him to this hit on Cam Neely:

Although some would say that Tie Domi’s punch served him a hard dose of karma.

And how did the trio of players the Whalers received do? Well, Jeff Parker played a grand total of four games before suffering a knee injury, Zarley Zalapski reached 65 points with the Whalers once before bouncing around the NHL then eventually Europe, and John Cullen was booed by his own fans who chose him as the proverbial scapegoat for the Francis trade before he got shipped to the Leafs two seasons later.

Just a disaster all around. And the fact that Ron Francis eventually signed with the Carolina Hurricanes then ended up as their general manager did nothing but twist the knife for Hartford residents.

Next: 19: Colorado Avalanche (Quebec Nordiques)

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