Eric Lindros did not want to be a Quebec Nordique, and in his draft season he told them that if they selected him with the first overall pick, he would not play. They called his bluff and drafted him anyways, and well, we know how that turned out.
It took the Nordiques a year, but they finally grew tired of his hold out and decided that trading him was the best option. They apparently had 5 deals on the table for him and they look absolutely insane when you look at them today all these years later:
NEW YORK RANGERS:
Alex Kovalev
Tony Amonte
Sergei Nemchinov
James Patrick
John Vanbiesbrouck or Mike Richter
(multiple first round picks)
$20 million
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Ed Belfour
Steve Larmer
Steve Smith
(a 2 for 3 swap of undisclosed draft picks)
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Felix Potvin
Wendel Clark
Dave Ellett
Craig Berube
(multiple first round picks)
$15 million
CALGARY FLAMES:
Mike Vernon
The choice of Al McInnis or Gary Suter
The choice of Joe Nieuwendyk or Robert Reichel
DETROIT RED WINGS
Sergei Federov
Nicklas Lidstrom
Steve Chiasson
Martin Lapointe
Tim Cheveldae
(undisclosed draft picks)
Some of these trades are mind boggling and some teams are probably thanking the lord they did not complete them, cough cough Detroit.
Eric Lindros and Tie Domi destroy the Bruins: pic.twitter.com/0X7nSBlgvR� Toronto Bag Head was right (@torontobaghead) January 18, 2018
POLL | ||
Would this trade have ruined Detroit? | ||
yes | 133 | 77.8 % |
no | 38 | 22.2 % |
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