The leadup to the 2021 NHL Entry Draft was unique for a few reasons. All 31 teams had to prepare for an expansion draft, as the league’s 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken, got to pick one unprotected player from each team.
That lead to several trades in the wake of the expansion draft, which saw players like Ryan Ellis, Jason Dickinson, and Barclay Goodrow all be moved, due to their teams not wanting to lose them for nothing.
The Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Vegas Golden Knights have completed a three-team trade.
To Philadelphia
D – Ryan EllisTo Nashville
D – Philippe Myers
F – Cody GlassTo Vegas
F – Nolan Patrick pic.twitter.com/hMqAjxtoLD— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) July 17, 2021
After that, the NHL Entry Draft was only a handful of days away, and many teams were looking to trade their picks for pieces that could help them win now.
The Flyers traded their first rounder and Robert Hagg for defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, and the Chicago Blackhawks traded a plethora of futures to acquire defenseman Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and immediately signed him to an 8-year extension.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
Chicago #Blackhawks acquire Seth Jones (agreement to sign 8 x $9.5M on July 28), 2021 32nd pick, and a 2022 6th RD pick from Columbus Blue Jackets for Adam Boqvist, 2021 12th pick, 2021 44th pick, and 2022 1st RD pick. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/LBwwtHnZK1— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 23, 2021
Both trades have aged like milk, especially for Chicago. But what if I told you that there was a trade that was somehow worse than those two?
Leave it to Jim Benning’s regime to somehow make the worst trade in a day of many awful trades.
In between the Ristolainen and Jones trades, the Vancouver Canucks traded for Arizona Coyotes defenseman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and winger Conor Garland, in exchange for three bad contracts and multiple draft picks, including Vancouver’s first round pick that year (9th overall).
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
Vancouver #Canucks acquire Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (12% retained) from Arizona Coyotes for Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, the 9th pick in tonight’s #NHLDraft, a 2022 2nd RD, and 2023 7th RD. Per @FriedgeHNIC and @PierreVLeBrun. #Yotes pic.twitter.com/9F9HK2E4LV— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 23, 2021
The Canucks had been linked to Ekman-Larsson just a year prior to the trade, and once more rumours popped up before the draft, it seemed imminent.
The trade was bad when it happened, but many were optimistic that OEL could find his form again in Vancouver. Oh, and getting Conor Garland in this deal, at the time, was pretty sweet, and they signed him to a 5-year deal just a few days after the trade.
Ekman-Larsson and Garland’s first season in Vancouver was actually a pretty solid success for them. Although he didn’t put up the points that he used to, OEL rebounded big time defensively. His defensive metrics were miles better than previous seasons.
Conor Garland recorded 52 points in 77 games, with 47 of them coming at 5v5, making him one of the best 5v5 point producers in the entire NHL. That is an extremely valuable asset to have on your team.
ICYMI: CONOR GARLAND IS A VANCOUVER CANUCK. #NHLOnSN | @Canucks pic.twitter.com/s1pYwbX5gc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 24, 2021
Unfortunately, both players had a disappointing 2022-23 season.
Garland only tallied 46 points in 81 games, and Ekman-Larsson returned to his defensively irresponsible ways.
When you pay two players over $12 million per year combined, you need more, and especially from OEL who makes over $7.2 million per season. The problem is that you probably won’t be getting more.
The trade has already aged horribly, and it’s only going to get worse.
Buckle up, Canucks fans, these next 4+ years may be long.