Phil Esposito took over as GM of the New York Rangers in 1986, promising a Stanley Cup and earning the “Trader Phil” moniker for his relentless deal-making—making more trades in three years than some teams did in a decade. Despite bringing in legends like Marcel Dionne and trading a first-round pick for coach Michel Bergeron (who lasted just a few games), the Rangers only made the playoffs twice, never advancing past the first round. Esposito was fired in 1989. Meanwhile, in 1999, Pat Quinn became Toronto’s GM and coach, guiding the Leafs to division titles and playoff runs each year—including a run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2002. Former Oilers also found new homes: Grant Fuhr joined the St. Louis Blues in 1995 for a solid four-year stint, and Bernie Nicholls played two strong seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, including playoff success. And for context, in 1976, the California Seals moved to Cleveland as the Barons—a short-lived experiment that ended in merger, proving how volatile the NHL can be.

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