2. Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers (1992)
The Quebec Nordiques were always the sister team in their own province. The team known for producing impressive talents like Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin and Owen Nolan, had the number pick in 1991. However, before the draft, the Northerners ran into a problem. The projected number one pick Eric Lindros made it clear that if drafted he would not join the Nordiques. Lindros did not see this franchise as marketable and disliked the idea of playing for owner Marcel Aubut.
Despite this, the Nordiques refuses to trade the pick and selected Lindros first overall. He refused to put on the jersey and demanded a trade. For over a year this new star held out and refused to play. At the 1992 NHL draft, Lindros was then traded not once but twice! Both the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers believed they had a deal. In the end, arbitration ruled in favour of the Flyers and Lindros had his desired move.
Quebec got a blockbuster package of Ron Hextall, Peter Forsberg, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchene and Mike Ricci. Lindros would go onto become one of the leagues most dominant forwards. Especially playing alongside John LeClair and Mikael Renberg on the ‘Legion of Doom’ line. Hockey in Quebec City was dealt a hammer blow and in the newer climate, the Francophone city was in dire trouble. This trade was the beginning of the end for the Nordiques before their relocation to Denver, Colorado in 1995. Now more about that move…