Worst Trades in Oilers History
T
The Hockey Writers
Summary: This is a summary of an article originally published by The Hockey Writers. Read the full original article here →
The Edmonton Oilers have had their fair share of regrettable trades over the years, shaping both the roster and the franchise's identity. One of the most notorious deals occurred in 1988 when they traded a future Hall of Famer, Wayne Gretzky, to the Los Angeles Kings. This seismic shift not only changed the trajectory of the Oilers but also transformed the landscape of the NHL, leading to an influx of new fans and a surge in league revenues. Gretzky's departure marked the end of an era for the Oilers, as they struggled to find their footing without their legendary captain.
Another pivotal trade came in 2001, when the Oilers sent a promising forward, Mike Comrie, to the Philadelphia Flyers. At the time, Comrie was seen as a budding star, and his performance after the trade only heightened the regret among Oilers fans. The Flyers benefited significantly from Comrie's offensive skills, while the Oilers faltered in the ensuing seasons without his contributions.
In more recent history, the Oilers made headlines when they dealt away a key player, Taylor Hall, in 2016. The trade, which sent Hall to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam Larsson, was heavily criticized as Hall went on to win the Hart Trophy with the Devils. The Oilers' struggle to solidify their roster and make a deep playoff run only fueled the criticism of this decision, with many fans calling it one of the worst trades in franchise history.
These trades, among others, have defined the Oilers' past and continue to resonate in discussions about the team's future. Fans remain hopeful that the organization will learn from these missteps as they look to build a competitive team capable of returning to greatness in the NHL.
Another pivotal trade came in 2001, when the Oilers sent a promising forward, Mike Comrie, to the Philadelphia Flyers. At the time, Comrie was seen as a budding star, and his performance after the trade only heightened the regret among Oilers fans. The Flyers benefited significantly from Comrie's offensive skills, while the Oilers faltered in the ensuing seasons without his contributions.
In more recent history, the Oilers made headlines when they dealt away a key player, Taylor Hall, in 2016. The trade, which sent Hall to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam Larsson, was heavily criticized as Hall went on to win the Hart Trophy with the Devils. The Oilers' struggle to solidify their roster and make a deep playoff run only fueled the criticism of this decision, with many fans calling it one of the worst trades in franchise history.
These trades, among others, have defined the Oilers' past and continue to resonate in discussions about the team's future. Fans remain hopeful that the organization will learn from these missteps as they look to build a competitive team capable of returning to greatness in the NHL.