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Boston Bruins: Looking back at 5 bad trades in hindsight

By Chad Zimmermann

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 11: The statue of Bruins Bobby Orr outside TD Garden is covered in snow after the overnight snowstorm, Feb. 11, 2017. The statue depicts Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup winning overtime goal. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - FEBRUARY 11: The statue of Bruins Bobby Orr outside TD Garden is covered in snow after the overnight snowstorm, Feb. 11, 2017. The statue depicts Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup winning overtime goal. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins
VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 15: Tomas Kaberle /

February 18, 2011

Bruins receive:  Tomas Kaberle
Maple Leafs receive:  Joe Colborne, 2011 1st round pick, 2012 Conditional 2nd round pick

I will absolutely be honest, and own up to this:  I was ecstatic when this trade happened in February 2011.  The Bruins were on the precipice of being a contender for the Stanley Cup.  All they needed was a solid, puck-moving defenseman.

The rumor mill started early that Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs would be available for the right price, and at the time, I didn’t care what it cost the Bruins.  The two teams were linked to trade talks for what seemed like a decade, until the deal was finally sealed.  The Bruins landed what very well could have been the missing piece, shortly after adding veteran forward Chris Kelly and adding Rich Peverley on the same day.  The Bruins were in-it-to-win-it.

Kaberle looked like a fish out of water in Boston.  In 24 regular season games, he only contributed 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists) in 24 games, whereas before the trade he had 38 points in 58 games for Toronto.  In 25 playoff games, he did record 11 assists, but never seemed to integrate himself fully into the lineup.  He was supposed to help the Bruins struggling power play, but that didn’t happen.  Wouldn’t you know it, that was Kaberle’s first and last season in Boston.

Looking back at the 2011 Stanley Cup win, I would argue the Bruins won IN SPITE of Kaberle being on the team, not because he was on it.  It’s obviously hard to second guess the deal now because the Bruins won the Cup.  But if you have time, take a look at the 2011 NHL draft, and you will see a TON of talent the Bruins missed out on.

The Anaheim Ducks (who ultimately ended up with Boston’s pick after it was dealt by Toronto) selected 2018 All-Star Rickard Rakell.  Vincent Trochek, Johnny Gaudreu, and potential Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov all went in later rounds.  The 2012 NHL Draft wasn’t too bad either in the 2nd round and beyond.  And Joe Colborne…well, not that big a loss.

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