Many years from now, we’ll all tell our grandchildren about June 29, 2016, the day the NHL landscape was rocked by three major transactions. And it all happened in 32 minutes.
12:25 PM PDT – Oilers trade Taylor Hall
The Oilers have traded Taylor Hall
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) June 29, 2016
The Edmonton Oilers, desperate for a defenceman, decided enough was enough. They were going to bolster their blueline and if it took Taylor Hall to get it done, so be it.
The problem? The defenceman they got in return, Adam Larsson, many believe isn’t a top pairing defenceman. At least not yet.
Larsson was the fourth overall draft pick in 2011, the year the Oilers chose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall. It speaks volumes that it took Hall, and not Nugent-Hopkins, to get the deal done. Bet Edmonton would like a do over on that one.
Larsson could still develop into a top pairing defenceman, so we’ll see.
This will also fuel the fire that Milan Lucic is ready to sign with the Oilers on July 1.
See also
Add Lucic and Larsson, and remove Hall, and perhaps Edmonton improves their chances next season. They’ve done enough losing, so you can understand mortgaging some future to get into the playoffs as soon as possible.
From a New Jersey perspective, they’ve made a great hockey trade. The Devils won’t be any good next year, but at least they’ve got a nice building block for the future.
The Hall-Larsson trade was the big news of the day for 29 minutes. What we thought was the main course, turned out to just be an appetizer.
12:54 PM PDT – PK Subban for Shea Weber
#Blockbuster @CanadiensMTL trade PK Subban to @PredsNHL for Shea Weber #wow @Sportsnet @NHL.
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) June 29, 2016
We knew the Montreal Canadiens were listening to trade offers on PK Subban, but we didn’t know how close they were to making a deal. We also didn’t know where he would land, and who would be coming back.
Then Nick Kypreos dropped a bomb.
PK Subban was dealt to Nashville for Shea Weber. It’s one of the biggest trades we’ve ever seen.
Both players are not only Norris Trophy-calibre defencemen, but they’re also each pillars in their communities. You have to go back to Montreal trading Chris Chelios to Chicago for Denis Savard in 1990 to find something close.
Fans in each city were rocked by the news.
The trade essentially confirms the Habs’ dislike for Subban (for some reason). In Subban, the Predators get a player four years younger than Weber, with a more manageable contract. Subban has a higher cap hit, but is only on the books until he’s 33. Weber is on the books until he’s 40.
12:57 PM PDT – Steven Stamkos re-signs with Lightning
Steven Stamkos is staying in TB. #TSN
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 29, 2016
Three minutes after the trade of the century, we found out the UFA of the century was staying put.
Cancel the Stamkos sweepstakes because he has re-signed in Tampa Bay, inking an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million per season.
Apart from Wayne Gretzky getting traded in his prime, I don’t think we’ve ever had 32 minutes like this before in the history of the league. WTF, indeed.
- SEE ALSO: The ‘Stamkos to Toronto’ dream is dead
Follow Channels and Categories