READ: 30 years ago today this trade SHOCKED the hockey world

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Ryan
June 20, 2022 (4:49 PM)

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Eric Lindros was supposed to be the ''Next Great One" - he had everything you wanted to see him a hockey player, size, skill, determination, he was the perfect package.

In 1991 Lindros was the projected 1st overall pick and no one even came close to challenging him for this position. But there was a problem, the Quebec Nordiques had the first overall pick and Lindros told them that he would not play for them if they drafted him.

The Nordiques called his bluff and he instead returned to Oshawa to play in the OHL.

On June 20th 1992, at 10:30am, the Nordiques traded Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for for Steve Duchesne, Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, future considerations, round 1 pick in the 1993 draft, round 1 pick in the 1994 draft and $15 million cash.

This trade did not get finalized until the 30th due to a load of confusion, but on the 20th is when the official trade happened.

While it has always been said ''whoever gets the best player in the trade, wins the trade'', one could argue that Lindros was not actually the best player in the trade.

Peter Forsberg (1.25 points per game) finished his career with a significantly higher points per game stat than Lindros (1.13 points per game) while the Nordiques also received some great secondary players and defenceman Steve Duchesne who put up 82 points in 82 games during his season with the Nordiques.

This trade was one of the biggest blockbusters in NHL history and is still being talked about 30 years later.

Eric Lindros at his best. Banging. Working. Moments later, scoring. Monster shift. #BringItToBroad #Flyers pic.twitter.com/ncIa5n92f3� The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) October 16, 2021