Best Bruin trade deadline acquisition -- all-time.

Saints Rest

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This article lists their view of the Best (and worst) trade deadline deals that the Bruins have ever made, but I trust the collective knowledge and opinions of this group far more than any other source. The article also puts weight on long-time future considerations and I'm more interested (in light of this week's apparent GFIN intentions) of thinking of the results in the season the trade was made, including playoffs.
 

jaytftwofive

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Don't forget Rick MaCliesh in 71 and Reggie Leach in 72 as two of the worst. Though Carol Vadnais proved to be a very good defenseman, Leach turned out to be a Hall Of Famer.
 
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walt in maryland

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This article lists their view of the Best (and worst) trade deadline deals that the Bruins have ever made, but I trust the collective knowledge and opinions of this group far more than any other source. The article also puts weight on long-time future considerations and I'm more interested (in light of this week's apparent GFIN intentions) of thinking of the results in the season the trade was made, including playoffs.
Pretty solid list (been a Bruins fan since the Orr-Espo days). Looks like this article was written in 2021, because the Lindholm deal isn't mentioned.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I loved the post-Olympic additions of Janney and Joyce in 88...not trades but huge impact moves.

Edit: JMOH knows the score
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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That was the famous “He better learn how to yodel then” quote from Harry Sinden I believe.
That was when they were trying to sign him to his initial contract and Juneau wanted a deal that paid the same whether he was in Boston or the minors, and threatened to go play in Switzerland if that request wasn't met.
 

Ed Hillel

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Who can forget that big trade for stud D-man Tomas Kaberle that put the B's over the top in 2011?

I feel like the Bourque one being on that list makes me sad. They could have gotten a little bit more, yeah, but it's one case where I think the organization 100% did the right thing. That's up there for happiest non-Boston title win with the DBacks in 2001.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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Who can forget that big trade for stud D-man Tomas Kaberle that put the B's over the top in 2011?

I feel like the Bourque one being on that list makes me sad. They could have gotten a little bit more, yeah, but it's one case where I think the organization 100% did the right thing. That's up there for happiest non-Boston title win with the DBacks in 2001.
I feel like Boston giving Bourque a celebration with the Cup in 2001 was that “night is darkest before the dawn” moments in Boston sports history. That day, the Red Sox were probably the best team in town, and they were midway through a season that left the clubhouse hopelessly fractured.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I feel like Boston giving Bourque a celebration with the Cup in 2001 was that “night is darkest before the dawn” moments in Boston sports history. That day, the Red Sox were probably the best team in town, and they were midway through a season that left the clubhouse hopelessly fractured.
I'm probably the outlier on this but I hated giving Bourque his day. Just seemed like the loser mentality had finally won here.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Same.

I remember watching that finals and feeling like I should be happy, but just couldn't. It felt very odd.
I was depressed. They were never going to win anything and the only way they could be winners was for the city to throw one of their former players a parade because he had gotten out of town in order to win.

I'm so glad those emotions are gone forever. Because they sucked.
 

Two Youks

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Jun 18, 2013
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That was my introduction to the harsh reality of players moving teams. Then we got Oates and everything was made right with the world. He was my favorite Bruin for a long time.
Eh? Oates and Juneau were on the team together, and Juneau was traded several years before Oates.
 

Dogman

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Eh, Bourque was my favorite childhood player. Grew up down the street from him. In the offseason he was constantly outside playing street hockey with all the neighborhood kids, his own included. Just a great person through and through.

I felt like that parade was the city essentially saying to Bruins ownership (and Sox, Celts, Patriots) that he was owed this as member of the Bruins but since they wouldn't spend to make it happen, fuck you, this is what parades mean to players and fans alike.

Things collectively changed for all Boston teams after that.
 

shaggydog2000

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In fairness, you at 11 and me at 13, knew better than washed up Harry Sinden that the trade was dumb.
16 year old me loved it. Al Iafrate was a player I thought was incredible. And I should know back then, because I played NHL 94 pretty much non-stop and often added him to the Bruins, along with Pat Verbeek. It's a shame he had such terrible knees.

Like others, Oates became my favorite Bruin the minute they traded for him. What an incredibly talented and hard working player. Just relentless in effort and skill.
 

lexrageorge

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Don't forget Rick MaCliesh in 71 and Reggie Leach in 72 as two of the worst. Though Carol Vadnais proved to be a very good defenseman, Leach turned out to be a Hall Of Famer.
I can forgive those as the Big Bad Bruins were 100% in GFIN move at that time. Mike Walton (MacLiesh) was a useful addition and added valuable depth to the 1972 Cup winning team. Leach is not in the Hall of Fame, although he did end up having a strong career that left him at least knocking on the door.

And Vadnais was a helpful addition to getting both Park and Ratelle in 1975; had Orr's knees not given out they win another Cup in the late 1970's thanks to that trade.

Other trades:

I hated the fact that Sinden hated Juneau, as he always seemed to think that highly skilled players were "soft". Rumor has it that Iafrate's knees were shot at the time of the trade but the B's front office plowed ahead anyway. To be fair and balanced, however, the NHL was wide open that season and so it was a bit of a GFIN move as well. But realistically, the Bruins playoff hopes disappeared when Neely injured his knee after scoring 50 goals in 49 games skating on one healthy hip.

Definitely was disappointed in the return from the Bourque trade, and still am. Still far superior to the return from the rushed for no reason Joe Thornton trade.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I feel strongly that Bourque winning the Cup was awesome, I cried tears of joy. I accidentally avoided the celebration- long story there…

We should have a poll about this.
 

kenneycb

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I thought ie was awesome too but 12 year old me in Illinois was probably more an Avs fan than a B’s fan at that point.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Who can forget that big trade for stud D-man Tomas Kaberle that put the B's over the top in 2011?

I feel like the Bourque one being on that list makes me sad. They could have gotten a little bit more, yeah, but it's one case where I think the organization 100% did the right thing. That's up there for happiest non-Boston title win with the DBacks in 2001.
It's funny how history remembers things. I thought Kaberle was well past his prime when the Bruins picked him up, not remotely a stud, and his biggest contribution was as veteran depth/power play guy.

By ice time he was the #5 defenseman during the playoff run. He did tie for the team lead (among defensemen) in playoff points with 11. But the real value he brought was that he was more trusted than then rookies Steve Kampfer or Matt Bartkowski. They gave up a lot for him (a #1, a #2, and former #1 Joe Colborne) and I thought the return was pretty weak - except that they won, so it was all good.
 

Ferm Sheller

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It's funny how history remembers things. I thought Kaberle was well past his prime when the Bruins picked him up, not remotely a stud, and his biggest contribution was as veteran depth/power play guy.

By ice time he was the #5 defenseman during the playoff run. He did tie for the team lead (among defensemen) in playoff points with 11. But the real value he brought was that he was more trusted than then rookies Steve Kampfer or Matt Bartkowski. They gave up a lot for him (a #1, a #2, and former #1 Joe Colborne) and I thought the return was pretty weak - except that they won, so it was all good.
I was thinking that Ed was being facetious, but maybe not? Kaberle didn't really add anything -- he was washed up by that point. It was really Kelly and Peverley that "put them over the top".
 

Eddie Jurak

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I was thinking that Ed was being facetious, but maybe not? Kaberle didn't really add anything -- he was washed up by that point. It was really Kelly and Peverley that "put them over the top".
If so it sailed over my head. The one valkue he provided is "not having to trust a rookie in the playoffs." In all honesty, that might have been the difference between winning and losing.
 

Ferm Sheller

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If so it sailed over my head. The one valkue he provided is "not having to trust a rookie in the playoffs." In all honesty, that might have been the difference between winning and losing.
Right, it's probably not fair to say that he didn't add anything, and because they won by the slimmest of margins (OT Game 7 victory against Montreal, 1-0 Game 7 victory over Tampa, and then going 7 games in the SCF) he -- and any other player -- could have been the difference between winning and losing.
 

lexrageorge

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It's funny how history remembers things. I thought Kaberle was well past his prime when the Bruins picked him up, not remotely a stud, and his biggest contribution was as veteran depth/power play guy.

By ice time he was the #5 defenseman during the playoff run. He did tie for the team lead (among defensemen) in playoff points with 11. But the real value he brought was that he was more trusted than then rookies Steve Kampfer or Matt Bartkowski. They gave up a lot for him (a #1, a #2, and former #1 Joe Colborne) and I thought the return was pretty weak - except that they won, so it was all good.
FWIW, Shane Hnidy was the 7th defenseman on that team, and he did end up appearing in 3 playoff games during that arduous 2011 run. But still much better those minutes went to Kaberle.

The 2nd rounder the B's gave up never amounted to anything. But what's hilarious is that the Laffs traded that first rounder (and another 2nd) to Anaheim, who selected Rickard Rakell, who is still playing and has put up nearly 400 career points in 600 games. Toronto moved up 8 spots in the first round as a result of the trade and selected outright bust Tyler Biggs, who never played a single shift in the NHL.
 

Ed Hillel

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I was thinking that Ed was being facetious, but maybe not? Kaberle didn't really add anything -- he was washed up by that point. It was really Kelly and Peverley that "put them over the top".
Yes, I was joking. He pretty much stunk and gave up a first for it, but all's well that ends well. He was the Scott Sauerbeck of the 2011 Bruins. Chris Kelly was the guy who really added the extra oomph that help put them over the top that year.
 

BuellMiller

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Mar 25, 2015
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Yes, I was joking. He pretty much stunk and gave up a first for it, but all's well that ends well. He was the Scott Sauerbeck of the 2011 Bruins. Chris Kelly was the guy who really added the extra oomph that help put them over the top that year.
Not to be too ‘ackshully’ but Sauerbeck wasn’t on the 2004 team. Maybe Eric Gagne is a better analogy?