On June 6, 1986, the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins completed a trade that would significantly alter the trajectory of both franchises for years to come. The Bruins acquired Cam Neely and a first-round pick (which became Glen Wesley) in exchange for Barry Pederson. At the time, Vancouver head coach Tom Watt wasn't impressed with Neely's defense, which made him expendable. This trade is now considered one of the most lopsided in NHL history, heavily favoring the Bruins.
Cam Neely, drafted ninth overall by Vancouver in 1983, showed promise in his early career, scoring 16 goals in his first season. However, he struggled to find consistent ice time behind established players like Stan Smyl and Tony Tanti. In Boston, Neely's career took off. During his first season with the Bruins, he scored 36 goals and 72 points. Neely went on to become one of the most feared power forwards in the NHL, known for his scoring touch and physical play. His career, however, was shortened due to a knee injury sustained in 1991 after a hit from Ulf Samuelsson. Neely was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. He has been the president of the Bruins since 2010 and even saw his name engraved on the Stanley Cup in 2011 when Boston defeated his former team, the Vancouver Canucks.
Barry Pederson, a former first-round pick himself, had two 100-point seasons before being traded to Vancouver. However, his production declined after an injury in 1985. While Pederson had a decent first season with the Canucks, he never reached the same heights as he did in Boston.
The first-round pick that Boston acquired in the trade was used to select Glen Wesley. Wesley had a long and successful NHL career, playing for 20 seasons and winning a Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. He later joined the Hurricanes' front office and won another Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 as a development coach.
The "Neely trade tree" continued to grow for the Bruins. Wesley was eventually traded to the Hartford Whalers for three draft picks, one of which was used to select Sergei Samsonov. Samsonov was later traded to the Edmonton Oilers, and in return, the Bruins received a second-round pick that they used to draft Milan Lucic. In 2015, Lucic was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Martin Jones, Colin Miller, and a first-round pick, which was used to draft Jakub Zboril. Jones was then traded to the San Jose Sharks for Sean Kuraly and a first-round pick that was used to draft Trent Frederic in 2016.
The trade had a lasting impact on both the Canucks and the Bruins. For Vancouver, it's a reminder of a missed opportunity and a trade that could have changed their franchise's history. For Boston, it's a testament to shrewd management and how one trade can have a ripple effect for decades. The Bruins have benefited from the Neely trade for over three decades, with the "trade tree" continuing to yield assets. It stands as one of the most significant trades in NHL history, with its effects still felt today.
