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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 15: Brad Richards
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 15: Brad Richards /

27: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning last won the Stanley Cup in 2004 under head coach John Tortorella. Don’t laugh. They were a well-balanced team, but they were led by a big three of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Brad Richards. Over time, the team parted ways with all three of them, but their break-up with Brad Richards was the hardest to deal with.

At least when Lecavalier and St. Louis left, it was towards the end of their careers as their play started to decline. When Brad Richards was dealt, he still had a lot left to offer. When he played for the Stars, he matched his career-high of 91 points in the 2009-10 season playing alongside James Neal and Loui Eriksson. He then went to the Rangers where he continued to put up consistent production, including scoring his first ever hat trick, before finally winning another Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

While the Lightning received a lot in exchange for Brad Richards, none of the players they got in return really panned out for them. Mike Smith posted a .893 save percentage in his first year and suffered a concussion in the season after that before they let him go in free agency. Jussi Jokinen scored 30 points in a season and a half with the Lightning before being placed on waivers then traded to the Hurricanes.

Jeff Halpern did pretty well for the Lightning, scoring a point in 19 straight games at one point. But he tore his ACL during the World Championships in 2008 and was subsequently dealt to the Kings in 2010. All told, none of the players the Lightning received in exchange for Brad Richards stayed longer than two full seasons. And of course, they traded the pick they received to the Wild who in turn traded it to the Oilers. Had the Lightning just kept Richards for a bit longer with Lecavalier and St. Louis, they might have gone on another Cup run.

Next: 26: Los Angeles Kings

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