Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Trades Over the Past 25 Years

Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Trades Over the Past 25 Years

By Darrell Samuels

July 20, 2015

Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Trades Over the Past 25 Years

Wendel Clark, Toronto Maple Leafs — The Toronto Maple Leafs have a history of making the wrong roster decisions. However, over the past 48 years, there have been some good moves which a few hockey fans fail to acknowledge. None of the trades listed below have resulted in the team winning their first Stanley Cup since 1967. However, at the time these deals were made there were not many negatives as to why these trades should not have been consummated.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a history of making the wrong roster decisions. However, over the past 48 years, there have been some good moves which a few hockey fans fail to acknowledge. None of the trades listed below have resulted in the team winning their first Stanley Cup since 1967. However, at the time these deals were made there were not many negatives as to why these trades should not have been consummated.

5. Felix Potvin, Draft Pick to New York Islanders for Bryan Berard and Draft Pick (Jan. 9, 1999)

Felix Potvin, Toronto Maple Leafs

5. Felix Potvin, Draft Pick to New York Islanders for Bryan Berard and Draft Pick (Jan. 9, 1999)

Felix Potvin, Toronto Maple Leafs — Toronto had already signed free agent goaltender Curtis Joseph, to be the team’s No. 1 goalie, pushing Felix Potvin to backup duties. Toronto was able to trade Potvin to the New York Islanders for 1995 draft pick Bryan Berard, considered one of the best defensemen at the time. However, after a freak eye injury in 2000 in Ottawa, Berard’s play diminished, but thankfully, he was still able to play for another 10 years.

Toronto had already signed free agent goaltender Curtis Joseph, to be the team’s No. 1 goalie, pushing Felix Potvin to backup duties. Toronto was able to trade Potvin to the New York Islanders for 1995 draft pick Bryan Berard, considered one of the best defensemen at the time. However, after a freak eye injury in 2000 in Ottawa, Berard’s play diminished, but thankfully, he was still able to play for another 10 years.

4. Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson and Peter Ing to Edmonton Oilers for Glen Anderson, Craig Berube and Grant Fuhr (Sept. 19, 1991)

Vincent Damphousse, Toronto Maple Leafs

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4. Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson and Peter Ing to Edmonton Oilers for Glen Anderson, Craig Berube and Grant Fuhr (Sept. 19, 1991)

Vincent Damphousse, Toronto Maple Leafs — Toronto pulled off two major trade deals. The first trade was made with the Edmonton Oilers and went hand in hand with another trade with the Calgary Flames after Christmas. Damphousse was packaged in a deal for Grant Fuhr and Glenn Anderson (two future Hall of Famers). Fuhr briefly helped stabilize the Leafs’ goaltending, and they were no longer a laughingstock as competitive players united to try and win a Stanley Cup in Toronto.

Toronto pulled off two major trade deals. The first trade was made with the Edmonton Oilers and went hand in hand with another trade with the Calgary Flames after Christmas. Damphousse was packaged in a deal for Grant Fuhr and Glenn Anderson (two future Hall of Famers). Fuhr briefly helped stabilize the Leafs’ goaltending, and they were no longer a laughingstock as competitive players united to try and win a Stanley Cup in Toronto.

3. Draft Pick, Prospect Landon Wilson, Sylvain Lefebvre and Wendel Clark to Quebec Nordiques for Draft Pick, Mats Sundin, Todd Warriner and Garth Butcher (June 28, 1994)

Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs

3. Draft Pick, Prospect Landon Wilson, Sylvain Lefebvre and Wendel Clark to Quebec Nordiques for Draft Pick, Mats Sundin, Todd Warriner and Garth Butcher (June 28, 1994)

Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs — This trade upset many Leafs fans as their favorite, Wendel Clark, was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques. Mats Sundin came to Toronto as the team’s top center and soon became the team’s first European captain. Clark achieved all he could in Toronto and later was brought back via trade twice to retire a Toronto Maple Leaf. Sundin was always a scoring threat, but he couldn’t find wingers of his caliber to play with during his tenure in Toronto.

This trade upset many Leafs fans as their favorite, Wendel Clark, was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques. Mats Sundin came to Toronto as the team’s top center and soon became the team’s first European captain. Clark achieved all he could in Toronto and later was brought back via trade twice to retire a Toronto Maple Leaf. Sundin was always a scoring threat, but he couldn’t find wingers of his caliber to play with during his tenure in Toronto.

2. Jamal Mayers, Ian White, Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman to Calgary Flames for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie; Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to Anaheim Ducks for Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Jan. 31, 2010)

Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Jamal Mayers, Ian White, Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman to Calgary Flames for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie; Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to Anaheim Ducks for Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Jan. 31, 2010)

Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs — Former Leafs GM Brian Burke always preached “truculence, tenacity and testosterone” to the Leaf faithful. There’s no doubt that on Jan. 31, 2010 the 3 T’s Burke preached were met with two huge trades on one day. Burke struck while the iron was hot and acquired potential All-Star Dion Phaneuf and Stanley Cup winning goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Unfortunately, the team has only made the playoffs once since these trades.

Former Leafs GM Brian Burke always preached “truculence, tenacity and testosterone” to the Leaf faithful. There’s no doubt that on Jan. 31, 2010 the 3 T’s Burke preached were met with two huge trades on one day. Burke struck while the iron was hot and acquired potential All-Star Dion Phaneuf and Stanley Cup winning goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Unfortunately, the team has only made the playoffs once since these trades.

1. Gary Leeman, Craig Berube, Michel Petit, Alexander Godynyuk and Jeff Reese to Calgary Flames for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville and Rick Wamsley (Jan. 2, 1992)

Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs

1. Gary Leeman, Craig Berube, Michel Petit, Alexander Godynyuk and Jeff Reese to Calgary Flames for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville and Rick Wamsley (Jan. 2, 1992)

Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs — Toronto was able to pull off a 10-player trade with the Calgary Flames that elevated the Maple Leafs to within one game of going to the finals against their hated rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs. In 1994, they were one of the final four teams competing for the Stanley Cup. The future captain, Gilmour, went on to win the Selke trophy with 127 points during the 1992-93 season.

Toronto was able to pull off a 10-player trade with the Calgary Flames that elevated the Maple Leafs to within one game of going to the finals against their hated rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs. In 1994, they were one of the final four teams competing for the Stanley Cup. The future captain, Gilmour, went on to win the Selke trophy with 127 points during the 1992-93 season.

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