Why NHL teams don't trade their post prime franchise players?

[User9992]

Why NHL almost never make 'Business decision' trading their post prime franchise players?

For example:
1) Penguins could have traded Malkin years ago when he started to decline but they didn't.
2) Capitals could have traded Ovi years ago when team struggled to get past 2'd round of Playoffs.
3) Few years ago Blackhawks could have kept Panarin trading away declining Toews or Keith. Creating a cap space for 'Bread Man' who had special connection with Kane.
4) Lightning could have traded Stamkos many years ago when he started to decline after injuries he had.
etc.

Click to read more...

 

[YoSoyLalo]

bc hockey culture fetishizes "loyalty"

 

[SomeDude]

Teams like selling tickets.

 

[jetsforever]

Ducks bought out Perry just before his 1000th game if I recall correctly

I think loyalty is good though - I always like to see stars spend their whole careers with a team

 

[RebuildinVan]

Most of them are signed to long term, big $$ deals with say on when and where they are traded. Theyve put down roots and dont want to move. The aquiring team is also going to have to fork over a ton of future assets for the expensive post prime player in the hopes they regain their prime form

 

[canadianmagpie]

NMCs and NTCs are given to those franchise players. Once they have put down roots, it's hard for them to leave a city where they are usually adored by fans.

 

[vHAB]

Most of these guys are on huge contracts when they start to decline which diminishes their value on the trade market so it's not always worth trading them.

Also the Ovi example is a weird one to bring up in hindsight, the Caps never gave up on their core even when they struggled in the playoffs and were rewarded with a cup for it

 

[kingsholygrail]

Their experience becomes valuable so long as they're used properly. That kind of longevity with a franchise is good for young players. The NHL isn't a fantasy league. They're all real people.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Because at some point their value to the team/community transcends their on ice value. Crosby and Malkin ushered in the most successful era in Penguins history, won 3 cups and countless awards. They deserve to retire as Penguins. Fans would revolt if they were traded.

 

[Jacob]

Yeah those teams are probably kicking themselves about that now.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Why NHL almost never make 'Business decision' trading their post prime franchise players?

For example:
1) Penguins could have traded Malkin years ago when he started to decline but they didn't.
2) Capitals could have traded Ovi years ago when team struggled to get past 2'd round of Playoffs.
3) Few years ago Blackhawks could have kept Panarin trading away declining Toews or Keith. Creating a cap space for 'Bread Man' who had special connection with Kane.
4) Lightning could have traded Stamkos many years ago when he started to decline after injuries he had.
etc.

1) He scored at a 110+ point pace through 55 games last season.
2) Won a Cup and Conn Smythe since then and is the greatest goal-scorer of all-time, and has a shot at breaking the goal-scoring record in a Caps jersey.
3) You're really asking why they didn't trade both their 1D and their 1C - 2 Conn Smythe winners and future 1st-ballot Hall of Famers?
4) Scored 45 goals and 98 points the season before last.

What a dumb thread. "Business decisions" lol. They didn't trade them because it would have been idiotic in every example you mentioned. Fans everywhere should be glad you are nowhere near the front office of their teams lol.

 

[txpd]

Why NHL almost never make 'Business decision' trading their post prime franchise players?

For example:
2) Capitals could have traded Ovi years ago when team struggled to get past 2'd round of Playoffs.
.

This is easy. Why would you trade a guy that has won 4 of the last 5 Rocket Richard Trophies? You also understand that Ovechkin is a cash cow. He makes so much money for the team from licensing that there is no way the Caps could legally pay him what he is worth to them.

Remember. These are businesses. This is just wrong.

 

[txpd]

Because at some point their value to the team/community transcends their on ice value. Crosby and Malkin ushered in the most successful era in Penguins history, won 3 cups and countless awards. They deserve to retire as Penguins. Fans would revolt if they were traded.

I mean...this is what the league needed. Right?

 

[StreetHawk]

Because of the structure of contracts. Top end guys get term coming off elc. Their next deal after that buys ufa years meaning they get to have trade protection and the top guys get maximum protection.

Means these guys have little interest in waiving unless their team is absolute crap. Which the teams are not. Maybe no longer contenders but not terrible teams.

Malkin was ufa in 2014. Once he put pen to paper on his 8 year deal he wasn’t going to get moved. Not even after the cups in 2016 and 2017.

If you want teams to make business decisions there is pain to them. Like the Blues not coming to terms with Pietroangelo at age 30 or them letting Backes walk at age 32 to Boston but still winning the cup in year 3 of his deal with the Bruins.

yiu don’t get to make business decisions at the time it best suits you.

colorado has to make a decision on Landeskog. A max term deal doesn’t make long term sense but they may need to do it to maximize their immediate chances to win the cup. Once he signs a contract he’s not moving until his contract allows for the Avs to trade him.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Why NHL almost never make 'Business decision' trading their post prime franchise players?

For example:
1) Penguins could have traded Malkin years ago when he started to decline but they didn't.
2) Capitals could have traded Ovi years ago when team struggled to get past 2'd round of Playoffs.
3) Few years ago Blackhawks could have kept Panarin trading away declining Toews or Keith. Creating a cap space for 'Bread Man' who had special connection with Kane.
4) Lightning could have traded Stamkos many years ago when he started to decline after injuries he had.
etc.

Why are your examples so bad?

 

[End of Line]

A business with a high turnover rate is something most ppl stay away from lol.

 

[Roasted Nuts]

There have been a few instances when teams did trade off their post prime players, as when the NY Rangers and Sens traded off their stars to jumpstart their rebuild. NYR traded off its 1D in McDonaugh and few roster players, and Ott traded away its 1W and 1D in Stone and Karlsson. I have to admit these players aren't franchise level players AKA Malkin/ Stamkos.

 

[ChuckLefley]

I mean...this is what the league needed. Right?

While it’s the worst regular jersey on Blues history, it’s hilarious how badly people want to denigrate the Blues around here.

 

[Stealth1616]

I mean it’s quite rare to see a superstar player play his entire career with one team. Ovy, Crosby, Malkin and who else ? Other then maybe goalies I don’t think it happens often. And those guys above are still bringing in insane amount of revenue from merchandise, fan support etc. That’s a major reason why

 

[Black Kevin]

I mean it’s quite rare to see a superstar player play his entire career with one team. Ovy, Crosby, Malkin and who else ?

Getzlaf, Marchand, Bergeron, Kopitar, Backstrom, Giroux, Keith, Price, Rask, Carlson

Other: Vlasic, Edler, Couture, Krejci, Benn, Letang

Then guys like Toews, Kane, Stamkos, Doughty, Josi and Hedman who haven't been around too long yet.

 

[Flukeshot]

Definitely not the greatest examples but I think it's a valid question when you compare the NHL to the NBA or MLB.

The rest of the roster needs to be taken into consideration. Is trading that star player the start of a full rebuild? Is it a push to sustain the rest of the core?

 

[txpd]

While it’s the worst regular jersey on Blues history, it’s hilarious how badly people want to denigrate the Blues around here.

I only wanted to post one picture. I hope this makes you feel better.

 

[StreetHawk]

There have been a few instances when teams did trade off their post prime players, as when the NY Rangers and Sens traded off their stars to jumpstart their rebuild. NYR traded off its 1D in McDonaugh and few roster players, and Ott traded away its 1W and 1D in Stone and Karlsson. I have to admit these players aren't franchise level players AKA Malkin/ Stamkos.

You examples are of players nearing the expiration of their contracts. Stone was dealt at the tdl when he was due to be ufa. Karlsson moved in the off-season of his final year.

McDonaugh was on contract 2, due to be ufa at 30 and they moved his with 2 playoff years left on his deal.

I think the OP is looking more at guys in their early 30’s before you see the drop in their production. But these guys are then 2-4 years into contract 3 with full nmc ands ntc.

 

[txpd]

While it’s the worst regular jersey on Blues history, it’s hilarious how badly people want to denigrate the Blues around here.

How does this look any better? I mean...its my team and I am glad the Caps had him but....

 

[trick9]

Because trading your franchise player hardly ever helps your team, post prime or not.