Was the Roberto Luongo Trade the Worst in NHL History?
Panthers General Manager Jaques Martin sure thinks so.
Martin was asked Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald: “True or false — the Roberto Luongo trade is the worst trade in the history of your sport?”
His response: “True”
miss me?
This is the man who made the trade. The General Manager of the team. GMs are usually very pompous assholes who are quick to pat themselves on the back at every chance. While it’s a bit refreshing to see some honesty from a General Manager… what the hell?
Why would you make the deal?
So the Panthers traded a top draft pick for Luongo; that pick became Rick DiPietro (he of 36 saves last night). They then trade Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi. Yes, Todd Bertuzzi. This is the equivalent of trading an ace pitcher in the majors for a platooning middle infielder (if that middle infielder liked to punch people).
Martin is trying to backpedal and claim he made a last second plea with Luongo to sign with the team before the trade… but then traded him anyways. For a franchise that has been in the cellar of the NHL table since the ‘Beezer was in the net, it’s always nice to see the front office giving away top goalkeepers. If you’re going to make a horrible trade, don’t remind us of your incompetence. Let South Florida be happy with ignoring you until you win.
[Link: Miami Herald]
on October 11th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
martin didn’t make the luongo trade, keenan did
on October 11th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
One small correction - the Panthers didn’t give a draft pick to get Luongo from the Isles. The Panthers sent Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha north in return for Luongo and Olli Jokinen. The Islanders already had the first overall pick in the draft, which they then used to select DiPietro.
How do I know this? Because I am a diehard Islanders fan who, when he saw the news on ESPN that fateful morning, screamed “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” so loud three of my neighbors heard it. Typical freakin’ Isles. Imagine where they’d be today if they kept Luongo and used that first overall pick on Dany Heatley…forget it, I’m not gonna do this to myself again.
on October 11th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Keenan started it, but then Martin took over the team and says he “tried” to prevent the trade at the last minute… but he was the one who made the trade.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/hockey/panthers/sfl-flsppantnote5nboct05,0,2600122.story
on October 11th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
there are all kinds of different stories on the various trades involved (the herald and sentinel) so does anyone really know what took place for this HORRIBLE trade? Or should we all just forget about it?