By Jordan Long
In 1991 the NHL Entry Draft was held on this date. The Quebec Nordiques had the first overall pick. They could choose any skater they wanted. They didn’t know that after this draft the course of two franchises would change forever.
The Nordiques were last in the NHL in 1991. They ended with a record of 16 wins, 50 losses, and 14 ties for a total of 46 points. The next lowest total was Toronto with 57 points. They were awarded the #1 pick.
The Nordiques felt the best player in the draft was forward Eric Lindros. Lindros didn’t have any desire to play for the Quebec franchise because of the ownership at the time. The Nordiques still selected him at #1. Lindros spent the 1992 season with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. It was clear Lindros wasn’t going to play a second for Quebec.
Lindros finally got his wish. On June 30, 1992, Philadelphia traded defensemen Steve Duchesne and Kerry Huffman, goaltender Ron Hextall, center Mike Ricci, and draft the rights of forward Peter Forsberg along with Philadelphia’s 1993 first-round pick.
Lindros played 8 years in Philadelphia. There he scored 290 goals with 369 assists for a total of 659 points. Philadelphia advanced to the postseason 6 times with Lindros. He played in 50 playoff games for Philadelphia. In those games, he lit the lamp 24 times and assisted on 33 goals. Philadelphia went to the Stanley Cup Final once, 1997, but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
Lindros sat out the 2000 to 2001 season. He wanted to be dealt but Philadelphia didn’t grant his wish. On August 20th, 2001, Flyers dealt Lindros to New York. Lindros appeared in 192 games in 3 years for the Rangers. The Rangers didn’t make the playoffs with him and once his contract was up in 2004, the Rangers moved on from him.
After the lockout that canceled the whole 2004 to 2005 season, Lindros agreed to a 1 year contract with Toronto. It didn’t work out. He appeared in 33 games and scored 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points.
His last year in the NHL was in 2007 for Dallas. In his career, Lindros totaled 372 goals and 493 points. He never won a Stanley Cup but was voted into the All-Star Game 7 times. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
Peter Forsberg had a much different career. Forsberg didn’t play in the NHL until 1994 when he played for the Quebec Nordiques. That season he put up 15 goals and 35 assists for a total of 50 points. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the league’s top rookie. Quebec advanced to the playoffs but were beaten in the 1st-round by the New York Rangers.
Quebec then relocated to Colorado. Forsberg stayed in Colorado for 9 more years. Colorado made the playoffs every season with him and won 2 Cups.
After the lockout, Forsberg played for Philadelphia and Nashville before returning to Colorado in 2008. Injuries to his foot didn’t allow him to play at a high level anymore. He tried to come back in 2011 but was limited to 2 games and decided to retire.
Forsberg ended his career with 249 goals, 636 assists for a total of 885 points. He won 2 Stanley Cups as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. Forsberg went to 5 All-Star games. Forsberg took home the Hart Memorial Trophy for the MVP of the NHL in 2003. Forsberg went into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. His jersey number is retired by the Colorado Avalanche.
Lindros and Forsberg will always be linked to the trade. It worked out for both franchises. It wouldn’t have occurred if Quebec hadn’t selected Lindros on this date in 1991.
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