NHL history: Worst trade in each team’s history

NHL history: Worst trade in each team’s history: New York Rangers

You can’t blame the New York Rangers for trying. They seem like they are always trying. Whether it’s making the major splash in free agency like they’ve done dozens of times, or making the major trade to bring the big name to Broadway, the Rangers are willing to make the move. Here, the Rangers took on a star who was past his prime and let go of a star that was not.

The Rangers were looking to change the culture after another embarrassing playoff defeat. They called their arch-rivals in Boston and asked for the team’s biggest name. They wanted Phil Esposito.

The price was heavy. Brad Park was already a five-time All-Star who had a ton left in the tank. He was great for Boston and even put up an epic performance in the 1978 playoffs (20 points in 15 games). The Bruins didn’t lose a star without getting one in return. That wasn’t the only thing they got. Jean Ratelle had a nice final six years of his career in Boston before retiring.

Meanwhile, Phil Esposito was still really good, but the Rangers were not. The “change of culture”  ended up changing the Rangers’ winning ways entirely. They missed the playoffs the next two seasons, and they lost in the first round in the season after that. They did make a run in 1979 and Esposito was great that season, but losing two really good players for a team that ended up needing a complete reset was bad for the Rangers.