#1. Leafs Give Away Chance at One of NHL’s Best Defenseman
The Trade:
- Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Tom Kurvers
- New Jersey Devils acquire: 1991 1st Round Pick (Scott Niedermayer)
When you have an opportunity to trade for Tom Kurvers, you have to do it. No matter what the package is in return.
I’m joking, obviously.
Kurvers was an offensive defenseman who the Toronto Maple Leafs thought could help their blue-line. What they didn’t know at the time was that there was a defenseman already sitting there waiting for them, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, instead.
Unfortunately, Toronto got excited and traded their 1991 first round pick away to the New Jersey Devils. The Toronto Maple Leafs thought they would be a much better team during the 1990-91 season because that first-round pick they gave up, turned into the third-overall selection.
And with the third-overall pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils were proud to select, from the Western Hockey League: “Scott Niedermayer.”
Niedermayer only went onto to win one Norris Trophy and one Conn Smyhe Trophy, but besides that he wasn’t that good….Sorry that’s the regretful Leafs fan in me talking. He was one of the most beautiful skaters in the history of the NHL and finished his career with 740 points in 1263 games, while capturing four Stanley Cups.
Niedermayer stepped into the NHL immediately and was an impact player in every game he ever played, and would have been an amazing piece for the Toronto Maple Leafs.