TBT - CPHL Style!

[JiriHrdina]

I thought it would be fun to debut a new feature that I’ll try to do regularly. CPHL Throwback Thursdays.

In this piece we will trace the history of players in the CPHL – re-visiting the various trades that led them to where they are now.

In this edition we look at one of the best players in the CPHL – Sidney Crosby.

Drafted: St. Louis Blues (1st overall)

Trade #1 (June 2, 2008):
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Thornton, Joe (C) NHL
- Nabokov, Evgeni (G) NHL

Team: St. Louis Blues
- Emery, Ray (G) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL
Analysis: Looking at this now it seems like a slam dunk for the Pens, and in the long-run it probably was. But when the deal was made Joe Thornton was one of the best players in the NHL and CPHL and still had many productive years ahead of him. In addition, Nabakov was a legit #1. The Blues used the deal to get a premium centre and a #1 tender, while the Pens were able to bring in one of the most valuable assets in the league.

Trade # 2 (Feb 3, 2009):
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Pahlsson, Samuel (C) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL
- Tedenby, Mattias (LW) ECHL

Team: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
- Brown, Dustin (LW) NHL
- Richards, Mike (C) NHL
- Halak, Jaroslav (G) AHL
- 2009 3rd Round Draft Choice (phi)
- 2010 1st Round Draft Choice (col)

Analysis: Interesting deal to look back at now. The Ducks get Crosby but also a defensive stalwart in Pahlsson. Tedenby was a blue chip prospect that would never turn out. The Pens bring in a bevy of assets but nothing anywhere near the value of Crosby. Richards at the time, in particular, had huge value as he had yet to suffer the offensive tailspin that has resulted in him being a 4th liner in LA. Not sure who the picks brought in.

Trade # 3 (Oct 7, 2009)
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Chara, Zdeno (D) NHL
- Richards, Mike (C) NHL
- Kostitsyn, Andrei (LW) NHL
- Bogosian, Zach (D) ECHL


Team: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
- Pronger, Chris (D) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL
- Brouwer, Troy (RW) NHL
Analysis: A couple of interesting wrinkles here. One – for the 2nd time in less than a year Mike Richards is dealt in a swap for Sidney Crosby. The deal also sees two premium dmen exchange places with Chara and Pronger flipping.


The Pens give up a couple other nice pieces. Kostitsyn would have some productive years before bolting to Russia, while Anaheim also nets a premium prospect in Bogosian.


But wait these two teams aren’t done yet!

Trade # 4 (Jan 29, 2011)
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

- Stortini, Zack (LW) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL

Team: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
- Cammalleri, Mike (LW) NHL
- Yip, Brandon (RW) NHL
- Kane, Patrick (LW) NHL
- 2011 1st Round Draft Choice (phi)
Analysis: This one appears to favor the Pens, as the Ducks give up Kane, who isn’t far below Crosby plus a 1st + a good veteran scorer. Anaheim also takes on Huggy Bear which makes the deal that much worse for them.

Trade #5 (June 29, 2011)
Team: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
- Daley, Trevor (D) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL

Team: Minnesota Wild
- Edler, Alexander (D) NHL
- Stamkos, Steve (C) NHL
- Armia, Joel (RW) ECHL
- 2012 3rd Round Draft Choice (buf)

The Ducks do well here given that Stamkos and Crosby are pretty close as arguably two of the top 3 or 4 forwards in the game. Anaheim gains on the Edler/Daley exchange while adding Joel Armia – who may or may not turn out. A better prospect to Anaheim would have made this deal a complete steal for the Ducks.

The Wild end up keeping Crosby longer than anyone – over 3 years – before making the following deal:

Trade #6 (Oct 7, 2014)
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
- Eller, Lars (C) NHL
- Beagle, Jay (RW) NHL
- Tarasenko, Vlad (RW) NHL
- Lindholm, Elias (C) ECHL
- Milano, Sonny (C) ECHL
- 2015 1st Round Draft Choice (stl)
- 2015 2nd Round Draft Choice (cmb)


Team: Minnesota Wild
- Bernier, Steve (RW) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL
- Kruger, Marcus (C) NHL
- Ruhwedel, Chad (D) AHL
- Aube-Kubel, Nicolas (C) AHL


Analysis: Far too early to tell – but the deal could come down to how good Tarasenko ends up being and how high the St. Louis pick lands at.
So there you have it folks – from St. Louis to Philly – the trade history of #87.
I welcome suggestions on who the next player should be.

[Da_Chief]

Good idea but imo there's a disturbing trend here. After Blues draft him, look at the teams that are involved; Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Minnesota, Philadelphia.

Besides those teams there are probably couple other teams who can make a play for Sid (and other top players).

[JiriHrdina]

Special bonus: this trade was rejected by the league:
Team: San Jose Sharks

- Smith, Mike (G) NHL
- Wideman, Dennis (D) NHL
- Horton, Nathan (RW) NHL
- Voracek, Jakub (RW) ECHL


Team: Anaheim Mighty Ducks

- Hatcher, Derian (D) NHL
- Roloson, Dwayne (G) NHL
- Crosby, Sidney (C) NHL


Terms: Ducks owe the Sharks a 2nd round pick before the 2009 draft

[simmer2]

Absolutely love the concept. Found this to be a very entertaining read, especially trying to look back on deals and placing value on them then versus now.

Next player? How about a guy like Mark Giordano.

[Goffie]

Awesome job tracking that back. Very interesting read. I remember wanting Crosby so bad. I believe at the time Thornton was coming off a huge season and a CPHL scoring title. Nabby was a prime time goalie. I was so mad having to give up these assets when the previous Pens GM traded the #1 overall pick that turned into Sid for a bag of pucks right before I took over.

I also remember Mike Richards as the key piece in both deals that he was part of. Sid was not moving either way unless Richards was coming back.

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Fun looking back on this stuff. I remember we had a certain GM in LA that Goffie and I were keeping Sid away from for a few years because he was brutal (and was ultimately fired for tanking if I remember correctly).

[MJK]

One of the only players never to have been on the Jackets roster.

He's one of the most expensive players to acquire yet he has never won a Stanley Cup even after being on some pretty good teams.

[simmer2]

As the Habs I never had him either. Had AO and Malkin but never Crosby.

[DropIt]

Wait..

We had Crosby?