Jimmy Carson Trade

[Form and Substance]

Why did he start to suck after he was traded to Detroit, by all rights he seemed to have been headed for a hall of fame career.

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[jfont]

Why did he start to suck after he was traded to Detroit, by all rights he seemed to have been headed for a hall of fame career.

he was ok when he was in detroit...he was surrounded by alot of talent...he started to really suck when he got traded back to LA...

 

[acr*]

I'm not sure, but from what I read he could've been a clubhouse cancer, or just one of those guys who didn't really love the sport, but were just good at it. He got traded for Gretzky, then whined his way out of Edmonton and didn't do anything noteworthy afterwards.

 

[Leadzedder]

If I remember correctly when he was in Detroit he was apart what I was heard referred to a couple times as the best 4 centerman on a team. Carson, Yzerman, Fedorov, Primeau. I'm a little leery that it was those 4 but I'll see if I can find out if that's right. Either way, they were super deep down the middle. This may have had something to do with his output.


Yeah that's the 4 I was thinking on. That would have put him 3rd in the depth chart.

 

[Leadzedder]

Season Tm Gm G A Pts PIM
1986-87 LAK 80 37 42 79 22
1987-88 LAK 80 55 52 107 45
1988-89 EDM 80 49 51 100 36
1989-90 EDM 4 1 2 3 0
1989-90 DET 44 20 16 36 8
1990-91 DET 64 21 25 46 28
1991-92 DET 80 34 35 69 30
1992-93 DET 52 25 26 51 18
1992-93 LAK 34 12 10 22 14
1993-94 LAK 25 4 7 11 2
1993-94 VAN 34 7 10 17 22
1994-95 HAR 38 9 10 19 29
1995-96 HAR 11 1 0 1 0
Totals 626 275 286 561 254


There's his point totals. Not a whole lot of games in the later part of his career.

 

[Higgy4]

I read an article in the Detroit Free Press sometime last year. I tried to dig it up, but had no luck. It was one of those "where are they now" type of articles.

In it, he kind of eluded to the fact that he never really had a strong desire to play in the NHL. It was what he was good at, he grew up playing it, and people pushed him into the hockey direction. But he, himself, never had the drive that others thought he did.

I liked Carson, and was very excited when he came home to play for the Wings. But even in his few years in Detroit (his hometown) he never seemed very excited or driven on a consistent basis.

Obviously a very talented player. Just didnt have the desire. This is something that is probably more widespread in pro sports than is ever actually discussed.

 

[Leadzedder]

Quick math says while in Detroit he played 240 games and registered 202 points. Not bad.

 

[trenton1]

How about a 19 yr. old scoring 55 goals? Impressive even for the 80's.

Also, in 1992-93 with that mid-season trade and the schedule at 84 games he ended up playing 86 regular season games...gotta be at least a tie for the record.
Funny because he couldn't to seem to dress for even half his games from then on.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

Not bad.

except when you are the return for Gretzky

Seriously, he was headed in the right direction, then who knows what happened. One of those players I always thought was a shame.

 

[God Bless Canada]

Carson was never the best skater, average at best when he first came into the league. He suffered a serious knee injury (torn ACL, I think) in his first year in Detroit. He was clearly even slower when he came back the following season. He also wasn't known for his physical play, and was really soft upon his return. Everyone knew his time was short when he was scratched during the Kings 1993 playoff run.

 

[trentmccleary]

except when you are the return for Gretzky

Seriously, he was headed in the right direction, then who knows what happened. One of those players I always thought was a shame.

The curse of the Gretzky trade:

Jimmy Carson
Martin Gelinas (drafted 1st round 7th overall in 1988 by LA)
1st round selection (Jason Miller) in 1989
1st round selection (Martin Rucinsky) in 1991
1st round selection (Nick Stajduhar) in 1993
and cash.

Basically, five 1st round picks (including Carson who was one...) and Martin Rucinsky became the best scorer of the bunch. That's just sad.

I wonder what Edmonton has to show for this today... edit: Ethan Moreau is about all that is left.

 

[Poignant Discussion*]

The curse of the Gretzky trade:

Jimmy Carson
Martin Gelinas (drafted 1st round 7th overall in 1988 by LA)
1st round selection (Jason Miller) in 1989
1st round selection (Martin Rucinsky) in 1991
1st round selection (Nick Stajduhar) in 1993
and cash.

Basically, five 1st round picks (including Carson who was one...) and Martin Rucinsky became the best scorer of the bunch. That's just sad.

I wonder what Edmonton has to show for this today... edit: Ethan Moreau is about all that is left.

It was the $$$ that Edmonton cherished the most