The anniversary of a stroke of genius by Jeff Gorton

Six years ago today, Montreal Canadiens Vice President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton completed a deal that would change the face of the New York Rangers.

Indeed, on July 18, 2016, Gorton, who was then the New York team’s general manager, traded forward Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Mika Zibanejad and of a second-round pick.

So he not only got his hands on the best player in the trade, but he got an extra second-round pick.

At the time, Zibanejad had just turned 23 and Brassard was soon to be 29. In 2019, three years following the exchange, the Quebecer had himself admitted not having understood the Senators.

“When you think regarding it, this exchange makes no sense,” he told the Island Ice podcast.

Difficult to contradict Brassard since the latter collected 77 points in 139 games with the Senators before they traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 for a third-round pick.

Zibanejad, for his part, became a star with the Rangers by amassing no less than 364 points in 404 games. He was also the best of his team in the most recent playoffs with 24 points in 20 games.

It was only Pierre Dorion’s third trade as Senators general manager. We bet he would like to forget this one forever…

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