Worst Move Ever

I'm not very familiar with past Devils moves, and only know the more recent ones. But for those who do, what do you think is the worst move the Devils have ever made? To me, if Kozlov isn't resigned, it's almost as though we gave away Rupp. I have no idea how good Uchevatov was, but maybe you guys can fill me in. I also don't know what the popular opinion is on Rupp, but he seemed to be fitting in well with the system in '03. So what's the worst move?

Sending off Jason Smith, Alyn McCauley, and Steve Sullivan for a few months of Ellett and a year of Gilmour still kinda stings.

Sullivan had 73 points last season (including 30 in his last 24), Smith was a captain, and McCauley was a Selke finalist.

To me, if Kozlov isn't resigned, it's almost as though we gave away Rupp.

Rupp was traded for Hrdina. Not Kozlov. We gave up Berglund and Uchevatov for Kozlov.

As for the worst move, it was not making a better attempt at keeping Mogilny after the 2001 Cup win. I know Lou has his limits but Mogilny is still as good as he was then and I would have liked to see him locked up for a few years.

Smaller trade that didn't work out: Willie Mitchell for Sean O'Donnell. O'Donnell was a rental and didn't fit in too well with us, to the point where he was a healthy scratch twice against Colorado for Ken Sutton. Mitchell has since become a steady NHL defender.

The Gilmour trade hurt, but Toronto didn't reap the benefits from that trade either. They lost Sullivan on waivers and dealt Smith for a pair of draft picks.

Dealing Claude Lemieux for Steve Thomas seemingly set us back a year.

I want to say letting Mogilny go but the Devils did win a cup without him. Igor Larionov was one of the biggest wastes i've seen come thru NJ in a long time.

It's hard to pick out a worst Devils trade, but I can't think of any that rate as bad as some of the deals made in the last years in Colorado. I know that the pick that was used to take Lafontaine was traded for Bob Lorimer, but I can't recall who they aquired for the 1st overall that was used on Gord Kluzak. They were very free and easy with their 1st round picks back then.

Rupp had really lost favor with Lou Lamoriello and Pat Burns. They expected more from him. Berglund was in a similar situation.

The reason that Berglund and Rupp were traded may be found in Pat Burns’ pre-game interview with Stan Fischler on the Coach's Corner. The Devils coach told the Maven that "a couple guys have been stale, we've talked to Berglund, and I told Michael Rupp tonight, I said, 'we're going to give you better wingers; we're going to give you your position, but you're going to have to giving it back. If not, we're going to have to start looking down there to bring up some fresh legs and maybe some fresh minds.' I said, 'We can't wait.' This is a situation were we have to start get going, and these players that are trying to fight for spots on a regular basis in our lineup cannot have in and out games like that; they are going to get consistent, and real quick."

They didn't, and the organization traded both of them away.

As for the worst move, it was not making a better attempt at keeping Mogilny after the 2001 Cup win. I know Lou has his limits but Mogilny is still as good as he was then and I would have liked to see him locked up for a few years.
Mogilny was a great sniper, but he only played in 37 games thise season because of injuries. He also only tallied 8 goals, which is $687,500 per goal scored. I don't think the Devils could afford to continue to pay Mogilny

------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
As for the whole idea of a "Worst Trade" thread, that seems too negative for Lou Lamoriello and the Devils-way. It seems more like a Philadelphia mindset. I'll take every thing Lou Lamoriello has done and the most Conference and Stanley Cup Championships (tied with Detroit) since the Edmonton dynasty ended.

Best trade: NJ gets the 20th overall selection and two 2nd Round picks from Calgary for the 12th overall selection and a 2nd Round pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. The Devils used the pick to draft the lower ranked Martin Brodeur instead of Trevor Kidd.

Sending off Jason Smith, Alyn McCauley, and Steve Sullivan for a few months of Ellett and a year of Gilmour still kinda stings.

Sullivan had 73 points last season (including 30 in his last 24), Smith was a captain, and McCauley was a Selke finalist.

This one still kills me. I loved Gimour while he was here, but this was a mistake.

Best trade: NJ gets the 20th overall selection and two 2nd Round picks from Calgary for the 12th overall selection and a 2nd Round pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. The Devils used the pick to draft the lower ranked Martin Brodeur instead of Trevor Kidd.


The deal with Toronto, for the Niedermayer pick was better IMO.

Brodeur could still have been taken with the 12th pick.

The two second round picks were David Harlock and Chris Gotziaman

The deal with Toronto, for the Niedermayer pick was better IMO.

Who was the GM for the Leafs who had to be drunk as hell to trade Tom Kurvers for that pick? Floyd Smith or something like that? I still remember that for most of the season we were in contention for the number one overall which would have been Lindros.

Mike Rupp was in the right place at the right time in game 7 against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He had a good couple of games strung together in the SC finals, but his anointment by certain fans to instant martyrdom/instant replacement on the 2nd line filling in for Joe Nieuwendyk was way premature considering his unwillingness to definitively lock up that permanent roster spot at the end of training camp with an exclamation point. Seemed from my perspective that he became somewhat complacent with the notion that his job security was pretty much bulletproof last season after being "hero for a day" in the postseason. I think he took things for a granted a bit thinking he could pretty much do nothing at all that could impact him losing his spot with the big club, when he should have been turning it up more each and every game he played with NJ to prove to his teammates and superiors that his clutch goals late in the playoffs weren't flukes.
I still think he can be an effective player in this league, as a #2 center or whatever, but for the most part your pretty much right. The man stepped in **** in game seven and hopefully he doesn't become a Brian Doyle, old Yankee fans might know what I'm talking about.

Who was the GM for the Leafs who had to be drunk as hell to trade Tom Kurvers for that pick? Floyd Smith or something like that? I still remember that for most of the season we were in contention for the number one overall which would have been Lindros.

Oh, what could have been....
Stevens and Lindros, playing together! He would have been traded inside of three years.

Who was the GM for the Leafs who had to be drunk as hell to trade Tom Kurvers for that pick? Floyd Smith or something like that? I still remember that for most of the season we were in contention for the number one overall which would have been Lindros.

Yep, Floyd Smith.

Oh, what could have been....
Stevens and Lindros, playing together! He would have been traded inside of three years.

Lindros would have joined the Devils in 91-92, what became Stevens first season.

The Stevens compensation may have never happened, you never know.

Could have been Lindros and Shanahan, instead of Stevens and Niedermayer.

Lindros would have joined the Devils in 91-92, what became Stevens first season.

The Stevens compensation may have never happened, you never know.

Could have been Lindros and Shanahan, instead of Stevens and Niedermayer.

I doubt we ever win anything.

My bad, I got the two trades mixed up. I agree though, you can't really say that Lou makes bad moves. My jaw dropped when I heard Sykora was gone, but low and behold at the end of the season the Devils were champs.

Worst move... Trading Willie Mitchell for Sean O'Donnell. IF we had gotten any type of Defenseman that year instead of O'Donnell were talking about 4 cups not 3.

The deal with Toronto, for the Niedermayer pick was better IMO.

Brodeur could still have been taken with the 12th pick.

The two second round picks were David Harlock and Chris Gotziaman


The Scott Gomez trade was also up there as one of our best. I believe we traded 2 mid 2nd round picks to the Stars for the last pic of the 1st Round - Scott Gomez. :yo:

here is one for you.... NOT SIGNING MIKE VAN RYN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I doubt we ever win anything.
I doubt that. Shannahan is a future Hall of Famer as well. Lou Lamoriello would still be the President/GM. I feel they may have still won one or more Stanley Cups. Who really knows with hypothetical situations like that?

How about not throwing a game went Mario was the first pick.
I thought that Muller was a good soldier for the Devils, but...........

here is one for you.... NOT SIGNING MIKE VAN RYN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not accepting Marleau and Stuart for Holik is by far one of the worst ever.

Not accepting Marleau and Stuart for Holik is by far one of the worst ever.

:eek:

We were offered Marleau and Stuart for Holik!?!? When was this?

How about Sykora, Commodore, and Damphouse for Friesen. He did score one of the biggest goals in NJ history (game 7 Ottawa) but right now I'd rather have Sykora.

Muller (Captain at the time) for Chorske ane Richer. Richer was a fan favorite but never gave us the 50 goals we were looking for. Didn't Muller go on to win the Cup with Montreal. I liked Captain Kirk!

How about Sykora, Commodore, and Damphouse for Friesen. He did score one of the biggest goals in NJ history (game 7 Ottawa) but right now I'd rather have Sykora.

Muller (Captain at the time) for Chorske ane Richer. Richer was a fan favorite but never gave us the 50 goals we were looking for. Didn't Muller go on to win the Cup with Montreal. I liked Captain Kirk!

No Friesen = no cup in 2003
No Richer = no cup in 1995

Sykora instead of Friesen 03, maybe. It worked in 00
Muller instead of Richer in 95, he was our captain for a reason.
Who knows?