Evaluating Trades

[Canadiens1958]

The "Bad Trade" thread made me realize that there is no definite criteria for evaluating trades.From a historic (after all the players have retired) perspective how should trades be evaluated?

There are three viewpoints that should be considered.

Purely Statistical

Basic comparison of stats.This does involve a fair amount of sophistry.

Short Term Benefit

Giving up part of your future for short term game - winning the Stanley Cup.

Sam Pollock Rule

Simply which team received the best player.

Will grant that the trading of draft picks and the salary cap will change perspectives but still feel that the aforementioned cover the various scenarios.

Click to read more...

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

What about long term benefit? Deadline deals always have one side worried about long term and one short term.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Long Term Benefit

What about long term benefit? Deadline deals always have one side worried about long term and one short term.

Long term and short term benefits may be appreciated within the constraints of the three listed views and the objectives of the respective teams.

 

[Axxellien]

Absolute worst deal in NHL history, on any of the above levels {and more!!!} Boston trading Defenseman Allan Stanley to Toronto for offensive rearguard Jim Morrison!! Meets every criteria imaginable!! Both were seen as at the end of their careers, Boston's previously solid defence corps never recovered ... Flaman's & Armstrong's retirement & several other factors left gaping holes.... Shortly after the Bruins fell into an abysmal tailspin... Only Orr's arrival would raise them from the depths of hell!! Meanwhile, Stanley went on to anchor the surging Leafs for 8 glorious seasons, while Morisson played 1 season before oblivion!! {He later founded the Doors}

 

[Canadiens1958]

Details

Absolute worst deal in NHL history, on any of the above levels {and more!!!} Boston trading Defenseman Allan Stanley to Toronto for offensive rearguard Jim Morrison!! Meets every criteria imaginable!! Both were seen as at the end of their careers, Boston's defence never recovered due to Flaman's & Armstrong's retirement & shortly after fell into an abysmal tailspin from which only Orr's arrival would raise the Bruins from the depths of hell!! Meanwhile, Stanley went on to anchor Toronto's defense for 8 glorious seasons, while Morisson played 1 season before oblivion!! {He later founded the Doors}

Bob Armstrong did not retire but was loaned to the Canadiens (Hull-Ottawa) in the Wayne Connelly deal:

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/a/armstbo01.html

went on to play one season in Hull-Ottawa and one season with Rochester.

Allan Stanley - ideal pairing with Tim Horton in Toronto plus the Leaf defensive style - up and down, with responsible wings suited his game perfectly.

 

[Axxellien]

Well, Morrison had played for the Bruins at the start of the decade & his offensive style was seen as a match for the "TORPEDO" style of hockey the Bruins had pionnered & excelled at.... Was seen as a known commodity... Left only Leo Boivin & hard pressed part time winger Doug Mohns at the helm!! Simply horrendous.....

 

[Canadiens1958]

Phil Watson

Well Morrison had played for the Bruins at the start of the decade & his offensive style was seen as a match for the "TORPEDO" style of hockey the Bruins had pionnered & excelled at Was seen as a known commodity... Left only Leo Boivin & hard pressed Doug Mohns at the helm!! Simply horrendous.....

The Bruins had some excellent prospects on defense im the early 1960's - Dallas Smith, Pat Stapleton, Ted Green, Autry Erickson but they did not do a good job of developing them. Letting Bob Armstrong go to Hull-Ottawa where he helped develop the upcoming Canadien defensemen was a mistake.

Also the decision to hire Phil Watson as head coach, 1961-62 and start of 1962-63 was a serious blunder as his teams were completely lost defensively.

 

[Axxellien]

Well no, neither Armstrong nor Morrison "retired", but they certainly were never a force in the NHL again...Jim did play several years in Quebec & rearguarded the expansion Pittsburgh Penguins!....Both Flaman & Armstrong played in such pain in these final years, they could hardly stand, let alone play to their high standards!!

 

[Axxellien]

Oh Yes, superb young prospects who develloped into bright stars later on....Green, Stapleton, Dallas Smith, Westfall, Erickson...But with the loss of Larry Hillman, another solid, steady blueliner, The Bruins adopted an air of "expansion" team...Compounded by Lumley's retirement, the jettison of Don Simmons for the godawful tandem of Gamble/Head....Goals Against average ballooned out of all proportion! A disaster!!

 

[Axxellien]

Ouch!! Let's not even mention Phil Watson!! An unmitigated catastrophy!! Stanley's injury in the 1957 finals was a severe blow to the surging Bruins,,,,Allan had quickly established himself as a lynchpin of the Bruins defense!!! He was sorely missed!