The Leafs nearly traded for an NHL superstar back in 2001; here's how the deal fell apart
On the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, they discussed a trade that was on the verge of being completed that would have changed the landscape for the present and future of the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2001.
Vincent Lecavalier was on the outs with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2001 when he held out of training camp and then requested a trade after not being able to see eye-to-eye with then head coach, John Tortorella. Former Lightning GM, Jay Feaster, admitted that they were a conference call away from completing the blockbuster trade.
Reportedly it was going to be Lecavalier coming to Toronto for forwards Nik Antropov and Jonas Hoglund, defenseman Tomas Kaberle, and either a first round pick or prospect Brad Boyes. Both sides had agreed to the terms and just needed a conference call to dot the "I's" and cross the "T's".
However, former President, Ron Campbell, had a sit down conversation with his general manager, assistant general manager, and head coach because he wanted to make sure that they were on the same page as they were on the verge of trading their franchise player.
"Literally, within hours, Rick had a conference call to trade Vinny," Campbell said. "I told him, 'Let's rest on this for tonight and let's talk in the morning and make sure we have Mr. Davidson's blessing.' So I didn't stop the trade. I just said, 'We're not following with what my owner recommended we do.' "
Ultimately the deal never came to fruition, Dudley resigned two months later, and Feaster was thrust into a new position as the new general manager and his main priority was getting Tortorella and Lecavalier on the same page, because he stated that he was neither firing his head coach nor trading his superstar.
"I said, 'I don't know what ship the Lightning will be. It could be a luxury liner on a great cruise or it could be the Titanic and we'll be at the bottom of the ice,' " Feaster said. " 'But wherever we go, John, Vinny and Jay will be on deck chairs looking at each other.' "
The Maple Leafs definitely lost out on a unique talent, because from that point forward, he scored 302 goals and 691 points in 731 games across the next 10 seasons for the Lightning, which included a 52-goal and 108-point season in 2006-07 and of course a Stanley Cup in 2003-04 where he tallied 16 points in 23 games.
Antropov was a solid contributor over his 9 seasons in Toronto with 125 goals and 291 points in 509 games but nothing remotely close to Lecavalier's level. Boyes never suited up for the Leafs until very late in his career in his final season prior to his retirement, Hoglund finished off his career in 2002-03, and Kaberle stuck around as a key contributor until 2009-10.
Source: The Lightning's almost-trade of Vinny Lecavalier
| POLL | ||
MARS 23 | 304 ANSWERS The Leafs nearly traded for an NHL superstar back in 2001; here's how the deal fell apart Would acquiring Lecavalier in 2001 have landed the Leafs a Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes, paired with Sundin it would have been deadly | 106 | 34.9 % |
| No, the Maple Leafs would have lost a lot of depth | 146 | 48 % |
| I hate these types of | 52 | 17.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
