The Quebec Nordiques were folded into the NHL in 1979 after the NHL-WHA merger. Originally, they showed some promise in the mid-1980’s and on the verge of building something as their demise grew imminent in the early 1990’s, they were not able to overcome financial struggles and ultimately moved to Colorado in May of 1995. Arguably the most memorable moment of Nordiques history was when they drafted Eric Lindros first overall in 1991 and the trade that sent him to Philadelphia over a year later.
8/11/80 – Cash for John Paddock
John Paddock was a depth forward who spent most of his career with the Maine Mariners, who were the AHL affiliate of the Flyers. He played 32 games with the Nordiques in the NHL before being sent back to Maine where he played most of the next four seasons before retiring in 1984.
11/15/80 – Cash and 1981 seventh round pick (Vladimir Svitek) for Andre Dupont
Vladimir Svitek was drafted 137th overall by the Flyers in 1981. He never made the jump to North America from his native Russia.
Andre Dupont spent eight seasons with the Flyers and was a staple of their Cup wins in the 1970’s, racking up 1,505 penalty minutes in 549 games. He played 169 games over three seasons with the Nordiques before retiring in 1983.
7/25/88 – Terry Carkner for Greg Smyth and 1989 third round pick (John Tanner)
Terry Carkner was a defenseman who spent one season with the Nordiques after being acquired from the Rangers. He played five seasons with the Flyers and racked up 867 penalty minutes in 376 games. He was later traded to the Red Wings for a draft pick in 1993.
Greg Smyth was a defenseman who the Flyers drafted 22nd overall in 1984 and bounced between the AHL and NHL for parts of four seasons. He spent another four seasons up and down with the Nordiques and was dealt to the Flames in 1992.
The Nordiques drafted goaltender John Tanner 54th overall in 1989. He played 21 games in Quebec from 1990 to 1992 with the rest of his career, which lasted until 1997, coming on various minor leagues as a journeyman. His time with the Nordiques ended up being the only NHL games of his career.
6/20/92 – Eric Lindros for Mike Ricci, Peter Forsberg, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, 1993 first round pick (Jocelyn Thibault), 1994 first round pick (Nolan Baumgartner) and $15 million cash
The Nordiques drafted Eric Lindros first overall in 1991 despite the fact he made it known he’d never play for them. He began a year-long holdout, which was later ended when he was dealt to the Flyers on June 30, 1992, after a 10-day arbitration period when Quebec crafted trades with both the Flyers and Rangers.
Lindros ended up playing eight seasons with the Flyers, being one of the best players in the league during his days in Philadelphia. He racked up 659 points in 486 games before a string of injuries and battle with the front office ended in a trade to the New York Rangers in August of 2001.
Mike Ricci helped the Avalanche win a Cup in 1996 and was later traded to San Jose for a draft pick that would ultimately land them Alex Tanguay.
Peter Forsberg would spend nine seasons with the Avalanche and become one of the best players in NHL history, racking up 885 points in 708 games, he was a seven-time all-star, a two-time Cup champion, and won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2003. He would eventually return to the Flyers after the lockout and played two injury-riddled seasons with them, in what would be the last consistent NHL action of his career.
Steve Duschesne spent one season in Quebec and posted a career best 82-points. He was traded in 1993 to the St. Louis Blues.
Kerry Huffman played the 1992-93 and 1993-94 season with the Nordiques and was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators in January of 1994.
Ron Hextall played one season with the Nordiques and was traded to the Islanders in 1993. The Avalanche selected Adam Deadmarsh with that pick, who would become a key piece of their 1996 Stanley Cup win.
Chris Simon was the Flyers’ second round pick in 1990 and would win a Cup with Colorado in 1996 before getting traded to Washington later that same summer.
The Nordiques used the 1993 first round pick, which was 10th overall, to select goaltender Jocelyn Thibault. He played parts of three seasons with the organization and was traded to Montreal on December 6, 1995 in a deal for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane.
The 1994 first round pick was later traded to Toronto in a deal that also sent Mats Sundin to the Leafs in exchange for Wendel Clark, Sylvain Lefebvre, and Landon Wilson.
The deal also included $15 million in cash.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 